Watchdog Report: FAA ‘Lacks a Plan’ to Address ATC Shortages

More than three out of four critical air traffic control facilities are staffed below the agency’s threshold, according to the DOT inspector general.

Amelia Walsh

Monday, June 26, 2023 at 02:38 PM ET

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According to the DOT Inspector General report, 77 percent of critical facilities are staffed below the agency’s 85 percent threshold, with New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) at 54 percent. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A Department of Transportation report highlights that the FAA lacks a comprehensive plan to address critical air traffic control staffing shortages, posing risks to operational continuity.
Most critical ATC facilities are significantly understaffed, forcing controllers into mandatory overtime and long work weeks, which contributes to widespread flight delays.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely exacerbated staffing issues by suspending and reducing controller training for extended periods, leading to significant backlogs.
Despite the current challenges, optimism exists that the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 will provide the framework to address these staffing deficiencies and rebuild the controller workforce.

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A new report released by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General found the FAA “lacks a plan” to address air traffic control staffing shortages.

The report released Wednesday notes staffing and training for ATC controllers has remained a challenge for the FAA, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report found the “FAA has made limited efforts to ensure adequate controller staffing at critical air traffic control facilities,” and its “lack of a plan” to address such shortages “poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.”