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 several hundred probationary FAA employees, including those in air maintenance, as part of a federal workforce downsizing effort.
Unions contend these firings are not performance-related and will exacerbate an already understaffed FAA workforce, potentially impacting aviation safety and increasing the workload on remaining staff.
The Department of Transportation stated the FAA continues to hire and has retained employees performing safety-critical functions, while unions express concern over the wider implications for the national airspace system.
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.
