A number of probationary FAA employees were among federal workers losing their jobs due to efforts to downsize the federal workforce, according to reports. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
Aviation safety labor unions are protesting the recent firing of hundreds of probationary FAA employees, including maintenance staff, as part of a federal downsizing effort.
Unions argue these terminations were not performance-related and will further strain an already understaffed workforce, potentially impacting aviation safety and the national airspace system.
While the Department of Transportation states the FAA continues to hire and has retained safety-critical staff, unions express concerns about increased workload and the firings' impact on existing air traffic controller shortages.
Aviation safety labor unions are pushing back after a number of probationary FAA employees and air traffic controllers (ATCs) were among federal workers losing their jobs due to efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
Those affected include workers “hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational air maintenance,” The Associated Press reported Monday.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
