Austin's air control staffing woes under scrutiny after D.C. crash
The eyes of government officials and travelers alike have turned to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport following a deadly crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. This incident has heightened concerns about air traffic control staffing nationwide
As recently as 2023, Austin was the site of a near collision between two planes and is also one of the most understaffed air traffic control locations in the country.
Now, as a growing trend of near misses at airports coincides with a new administration's plan to slim government services, many are concerned with the safety of airports nationwide.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, has long been concerned with the staffing situation at Austin airport and recent events have only heightened this feeling.
More: Austin congressman blasts FAA for flight delays, safety issues at ABIA
In a statement following the Jan. 29 mid-air collision over D.C., Doggett grieved those lost in the plane crash in DC and outlined similar issues Austin is facing.
'Last week's tragic plane crash hit close to home in Austin; our airport has had 5 near catastrophic collisions. Our air traffic controllers are operating with about half the staffing recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration,' said Doggett.
The most recent example of a near miss at Austin's airport came in February 2023, when a FedEx cargo plane almost collided with a Southwest Airlines flight carrying over 100 passengers.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, the planes came within 150 feet of each other because a controller gave the go-ahead for the Southwest flight to depart from runway 18L while also instructing the FedEx plane to continue its landing on the same runway at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Gaffes like this have become more common amid air traffic control tower shortages and have been seen in Boston, San Diego, and New York.
Doggett also pointed out that Austin is consistently highlighted as an airport with a dire air traffic control shortage and criticized the current administration.
'ABIA remains in the top five airports nationally with the greatest air traffic controller shortage. Instead of responding to this nationwide problem, Donald Trump imposed a hiring freeze and also urged them to take a buyout for early retirement like other federal employees,' said Doggett.
At the end of last year, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson, Crystal Essiaw, said the airport had 33 certified controllers with six more in training, and that they expected additional trainees to start over the next few months. Doggett disputed this claim, stating there are just 29 certified controllers and that two trainees had been medically disqualified.
The FAA had previously set a goal to employ a total of 60 air traffic controllers in the Austin tower by 2024, according to last year's Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan.
In a statement, ABIA acknowledged Doggett's continued concerns and its staffing shortages, and said it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to find a solution.
'We are grateful for Congressman Doggett's continued leadership and advocacy in addressing FAA air traffic controller staffing at AUS. A fully staffed tower is essential to ensuring the highest standards of safety. We continue to collaborate closely with the FAA to implement a staffing plan that meets the growing needs of AUS.'
The horrific crash that took place in D.C. last week was the first incident of that scale in 16 years and the deadliest crash in the U.S. since 9/11. While crashes of this magnitude are rare, recent years have shown a growing trend of near misses at airports across the country.
In addition to the near miss at ABIA, in January of 2023, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines planes nearly collided at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. In February of 2022, a JetBlue flight landing at Boston Logan International Airport saw a close call with a Learjet that took off without clearance.
Last year also had a spate of near misses as in April a JetBlue and Southwest plane were cleared on a collision path at Washington National before air traffic controllers took the necessary measures to spot the collision. In May, an American Airlines plane canceled its takeoff at Washington National after it was informed that a different aircraft was landing on an intersecting runway.
Earlier this year, Delta and United Airlines planes experienced "a loss of required separation" while heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said, but both planes were able to land safely.
The rising number of near misses coincides with a staffing crisis that has plagued air control centers at airports across the country.
According to data from the union representing air traffic controllers, about 91%, or 285 of 313 U.S. air traffic control facilities, operate below the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recommended staffing levels. Notably, at 73 of these locations, at least a fourth of the workforce is missing — including Austin.
This situation could be further complicated by Elon Musk's and President Donald Trump's efforts to reduce the government workforce. As a result, at a time when air traffic control towers are struggling with staffing shortages, Trump has incentivized FAA workers to quit and take buyouts.
The email that gave workers the option to be bought out came just a day before the tragic crash in Washington, D.C.
According to its website, ABIA currently has 14 projects in progress, including expansions of international arrivals, a new concourse, an expansion of the west gate, and the removal of a building on the property's south side.
Overall funding for each of these projects is well into the billions and won't be finished until post-2030. Funding comes from a handful of entities including the City of Austin, the federal government and private funding.
Some of the most expensive additions include the creation of Concourse B and an accompanying connector tunnel that will be finished by 2030. Funding for this is around $1.1 billion and was approved by the Austin City Council.
ABIA is also adding three gates to the west section of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. This project is expected to cost $165 million and has a completion date set for 2026.
According to Upgraded Points, a travel analytics website, Austin is the 8th fastest-growing airport in the country and has grown 13.23% in recent years.
Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Safety concerns grow as air control shortages plague Austin's airport
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