(NewsNation) — The United States is facing a shortage of air traffic controllers, and lawmakers say strict age limits could be adding to the problem.
Federal Aviation Administration officials require air traffic controller applicants to be 30 or younger, and they must retire by age 56.
A shortage in air traffic controllers has sparked concerns about recruitment and led to a congressional hearing in which lawmakers said the U.S. is no longer the “gold standard” in aviation safety.
“For a country that considers itself the gold standard in aviation safety, these numbers are unacceptable, and we must do better,” said Rep. Troy E. Nehls, R-Texas, chairman of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation. “While it’s easy to lay blame at the feet of the FAA, and their project management is certainly not blameless, we also have to look at our own shortfalls.”
Age rules strain FAA, air traffic control
Airlines for America, the nation’s largest airline industry trade group, has reported a shortage of about 3,500 air traffic controllers affecting airports nationwide.
During Tuesday’s House subcommittee hearing, Nehls called the age restrictions “ridiculous” and labeled them age discrimination.
“I want to be very clear: The reason we are here today is that in its current form, this country’s air traffic control system is unsustainable. That statement shouldn’t come as a surprise to those in this room. In fact, many of the panelists in this room have been ringing the alarm bell for decades,” Nehls said.
The discussion also focused on ways to address the staffing crisis and whether adjusting age limits could help keep controllers on the job longer. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, warned that changing the age requirements wouldn’t be a quick fix.
In an effort to address the staffing shortages, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a hiring surge and a 30% increase in starting salaries for those who attend the FAA academy. He noted the average starting salary is more than $160,000 per year.
Air traffic controller shortage has lasted decades: Travel editor
Tuesday’s hearing follows mounting scrutiny after several recent aviation incidents, including a near-collision last week at Chicago’s Midway International Airport involving a Southwest Airlines jet and a Jan. 29 crash at Washington-Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people after an American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army helicopter.
NewsNation travel editor Peter Greenberg said the shortage of air traffic controllers dates back to 1981, when former President Ronald Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers and replaced them with military controllers.
“There was no provision by the FAA to understand retirement and rehiring, and they’ve never been able to catch up. So the fact that they’re 3,500 controllers short has been going on for four decades,” he said Tuesday on “Morning in America.”
Greenberg added that three U.S. air traffic control centers are operating under 85% staffing, forcing controllers into mandatory overtime.