Can’t Stop Sleeping

I’m always amazed at which issues grab the Public’s attention -- which issues get “hot”. I’m still getting a large amount of calls, emails and comments (both here and on Facebook) about the issue. When you think about the other issues that are out there -- an inexperienced workforce, ERAM, holes in 737s (What? Only Southwest flies 737s?) -- it makes you wonder. But okay, if this is the issue that people want to talk about -- so be it.

There’s only one problem. You can’t do anything about it. You can’t stop sleeping. You can order somebody not to sleep but it doesn’t make anybody less sleepy. The only cure is sleep and that means somebody else has to staff the position. That takes air traffic controllers --that you don’t have. And you don’t have any way of getting them in less than 2-3 years.

Here’s an idea for you. Have Randy Babbitt run across the Potomac to the Aerospace Industries Association of America and tell Marion Blakey he wants the FAA’s workforce back.

”During Congressional testimony February 11, 2009, NATCA President Pat Forrey testified that 3,356 controllers left the active work force in the two years after the work rules were imposed by Blakey, and "Since the implementation of the imposed work rules, the FAA lost more than 46,000 years of air traffic control experience through retirements alone. Nearly one third (27 percent) of air traffic controllers in the FAA have less than five years experience, and 40 air traffic control facilities have more than half of its workforce composed of individuals with less than five years experience."”

Hey, we tried to tell you.

Don Brown
April 18, 2011