Fundamental changes are needed in contracts for air traffic controllers, if new systems and inspectors to improve safety are to be afforded, says the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Talks with the US air traffic controllers’ union will have to result in a balanced agreement that allows the air traffic control system to be financed effectively while providing fair compensation tocontrollers. “We want an agreement that balances the needs of air traffic controllers with the need for the kind of technology and new capacity that will keep travellers moving safely,” says FAA administrator Marion Blakey.
“We cannot afford an agreement like 1998 that saddled the FAA with excessive costs, archaic work rules and restrictions on our ability to modernise the system.”
Cost reduction is a priority for the FAA, which is attempting to remodel its operations to meet increasing consumer demand, with limited revenue. Labour costs account for 80% of the FAA’s operating budget. While the overall number of controllers has remained the same since the 1998 contract, total controller compensation increased from $1.4 billion to almost $2.4 billion.
The FAA will seek to remove working practice guarantees in the contract that it says result in inefficient work schedules and overstaffing. It says the changes are needed to allow for more flexible and efficient working, as changes in air traffic volumes and patterns occur, and the introduction of new air traffic safety technologies, without long and costly procedures.
Source: Flight International
