The United States provides air traffic controllers with 20% bonus to delay retirement as the personnel crisis was deepening
Transport secretary, Sean Duffy, blames Biden administration for the failure of the Newark airport infrastructure system while detailing plans to repair it. (Credit: Ministry of Transport)
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said the key to mitigating the shortage of air traffic workers is to offer retirees a bonus to encourage them to stay on the labor market longer.
In an interview with CBS News, Duffy said that it would take time to stimulate the workforce of the air traffic controller, but a key element by doing this is to keep the most experienced controllers in the field longer.
“I think what is essential, we have offered a bonus to air traffic controllers who are eligible to retire. We will pay them a 20% bonus on their salary to stay longer. Let’s not retire,” said Duffy. “So, while we bring more air traffic controllers and keep the older experienced controllers, we will be able to invent this difference.”
FAA, DOT has plan to improve operations at Newark Airport
However, Duffy noted that it will take months, even years, to resolve the shortage.
The air traffic control system has been under immense pressure for years Persist staff shortages, Obsolete technology and underinvestment in critical infrastructure.
In February, Duffy undertook to tackle these problems with a new packet of shares to “overeat the manager of the air traffic controller”.
Its announcement occurred following the outdoor collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and an army helicopter on January 29 which left every 64 passengers of the plane and the crew, and the three dead of the helicopter.
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Transport secretary, Sean Duffy, speaks during a press conference in the news room of James S. Brady Press of the White House in Washington, DC, Thursday, January 30, 2025. (Tierney L. Cross / Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
System vulnerabilities have made renewed control in recent weeks after Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the busiest in the country, has experienced consecutive air traffic control breakdowns.
Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that it installed more tour simulation systems across the country so that it can certify air traffic controllers more quickly while reducing costs. These systems allow controllers to train for complex airport configurations, to develop scenarios that deal with safety trends, tracking coordination of track and rehearsal of the track and to repeat, according to the FAA.
The FAA air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (Biting angus / bloomberg / getty images)
This is added to the other stages that Duffy said he was taking to accelerate hiring on the ground. On the one hand, he tries to expand opportunities for veteran military controllers, to expand the list of qualified facilities and to offer financial incentives to graduates and new hires that have reached key training stages.
The FAA also plans to reward graduates of the Academy which are assigned to difficult facilities of establishment and to reduce waiting times for the best candidates, who in some cases await at least one year, for medical authorizations and routine safety.
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It also increases the number of instructors and establishes an Air Traffic Controller Academy learning center in Oklahoma City. Duffy also rationalized hiring by modifying the old process of hiring in eight stages at the FAA in a five -step process.
Duffy and interim administrator, Chris Rocheleau, also published plans to implement immediately to improve operations at Newark after consecutive failures.
