Latest news with #traveldelays
CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
Regina family of 9 sleeping at Toronto Pearson airport, flight delays continue
The strike by Air Canada's flight attendants is over, but it could take more than a week to get flights back on track. A family of nine from Regina has been sleeping at Toronto Pearson airport since Saturday. They were returning home from a funeral in Cameroon when their flights were disrupted by the strike. James Numfor says the airline says it won't reimburse any hotel or food costs.
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
FAA faces critical shortage of air traffic controllers. Here's a look into methods to retain and train them.
The United States is facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers as many trainees quit before completing their certification, contributing to travel delays at airports across the country this summer. The Federal Aviation Administration's training facility in Oklahoma City serves as the sole location where the agency trains new controllers, but the program faces significant challenges with about 35% of students failing to complete the intensive three-month course. If someone fails, they are not eligible to try again, according to Chris Wilbanks, who oversees training and the FAA's efforts to address the controller shortage. "It's one and done," Wilbanks said. The FAA is working to reduce its training washout rate by adding a mentoring program to help students during their roughly three months at the FAA training center. The agency has also streamlined the application process, and expects more than 2,000 students this year — the most ever. However, a CBS News data review found that more than 90% of air traffic control towers in the U.S. are understaffed. The training program includes traditional methods such as tabletop exercises where students use handheld model planes to simulate air traffic scenarios — a technique that may appear outdated but remains effective, according to Wilbanks. "It slows things down for them. It gives them an opportunity to learn the airspace," Wilbanks said. The FAA is modernizing its approach with immersive tower simulators installed at 95 facilities nationwide, reducing controller certification time by 27%. These simulators allow for real-time training scenarios that can be implemented within a week of actual events occurring. Training exercises demonstrate the complexity of air traffic control, with controllers managing multiple aircraft simultaneously, some circling, others taxiing for takeoff, and others approaching to land. Precision in communication is crucial, since a single missing word in radio transmissions can create significant safety concerns. "That is an absolute crucial part to the training. It slows things down for 'em. It gives 'em an opportunity to learn the airspace," said Wilbanks. The FAA is also expanding a program to eight colleges, allowing students to complete basic air traffic control training at their schools rather than traveling to Oklahoma City. Even after completing initial training, new controllers face an additional two years or more of on-the-job training before achieving full certification, highlighting the lengthy process required to address the current shortage.
CBS News
13-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
FAA faces critical shortage of air traffic controllers. Here's a look into methods to retain and train them
The United States is facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers as many trainees quit before completing their certification, contributing to travel delays at airports across the country this summer. The Federal Aviation Administration's training facility in Oklahoma City serves as the sole location where the agency trains new controllers, but the program faces significant challenges with about 35% of students failing to complete the intensive three-month course. If someone fails, they are not eligible to try again, according to Chris Wilbanks, who oversees training and the FAA's efforts to address the controller shortage. "It's one and done," Wilbanks said. The FAA is working to reduce its training washout rate by adding a mentoring program to help students during their roughly three months at the FAA training center. The agency has also streamlined the application process, and expects more than 2,000 students this year — the most ever. However, a CBS News data review found that more than 90% of air traffic control towers in the U.S. are understaffed. The training program includes traditional methods such as tabletop exercises where students use handheld model planes to simulate air traffic scenarios — a technique that may appear outdated but remains effective, according to Wilbanks. "It slows things down for them. It gives them an opportunity to learn the airspace," Wilbanks said. The FAA is modernizing its approach with immersive tower simulators installed at 95 facilities nationwide, reducing controller certification time by 27%. These simulators allow for real-time training scenarios that can be implemented within a week of actual events occurring. Training exercises demonstrate the complexity of air traffic control, with controllers managing multiple aircraft simultaneously, some circling, others taxiing for takeoff, and others approaching to land. Precision in communication is crucial, since a single missing word in radio transmissions can create significant safety concerns. "That is an absolute crucial part to the training. It slows things down for 'em. It gives 'em an opportunity to learn the airspace," said Wilbanks. The FAA is also expanding a program to eight colleges, allowing students to complete basic air traffic control training at their schools rather than traveling to Oklahoma City. Even after completing initial training, new controllers face an additional two years or more of on-the-job training before achieving full certification, highlighting the lengthy process required to address the current shortage.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Yahoo
Heathrow Airport chaos as passengers 'stuck' in tunnels, trains cancelled and traffic jammed
Passengers at Heathrow have been stuck in tunnels at the airport for over an hour amid travel delays this morning (Tuesday, August 5). Photographs show large crowds of people unable to move at the airport as the Central Terminal Area tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3 is closed due to "technical issues." Scott Roberts, who is at the airport, posted a photograph of a crowd of people at the airport to his X account. His post was captioned: "Been at Heathrow for an hour caught between the lifts and terminal tunnel and no one knows what is happening, this country is knackered." Drivers trying to leave the airport are also reportedly facing congestion. One person took to X to say that they had been sat in a cab trying to leave the airport since 8.20am. READ MORE: 'I slipped in beer at Oasis' Wembley concert yards from where man fell to his death' READ MORE: Woman who saw man fall at Wembley football match questions whether lessons were learned The Heathrow Express has also cancelled all services in both directions due to the "overcrowding". A status alert on its website currently states this will last until the end of the day. The M4 Heathrow Spur (at J4) into Terminals 2 and 3 is also now closed due to "severe delays". People are being asked to use the M25 J14 and head towards Terminal 5 and to allow extra time if heading to the airport this morning. Heathrow Airport has said that the main road tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3 has now reopened but congestion still remains in the area. Passengers are still recommended to allow extra time for their journeys. People have taken to social media to complain that they are currently unable to leave the airport, with large crowds of people gathered waiting for information. One person wrote that there was "chaos" at the Terminal 5 train platform to Terminals 2 and 3, with not trains serving the station for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, others reported being stuck in Terminal 3 and unable to exit the Tube station. Another person posted a picture of people running with their luggage in the roads, presumably to reach their flights and avoid the congestion in the airports tunnels. A spokesperson for Heathrow posted to X: "Due to a technical issue, the Central Terminal Area tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3 is currently closed. Please use public transport to Terminal 5, where train services are available to all other terminals. We're working hard to resolve the issue and apologise for the disruption." Got a story? Please get in touch at Stay updated on the latest travel news for London's roads with our London Traffic and Travel newsletter. Sign up HERE!
BBC News
08-08-2025
- BBC News
Liverpool John Lennon Airport issues warning over road closures
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has warned passengers to allow extra travel time due to weekend road closures that could cause lengthy said there was set to be significant delays as Speke Boulevard and Speke Road - the A561 and A562 - in Speke underwent roads are due to be shut from 23:00 BST to 23:00 on Sunday and from 04:00 on 16 August to 04:00 on 18 August, with the signposted diversion running to about 13 miles (21km), LJLA advised anyone travelling to the airport over these weekends to allow plenty of additional time to travel. The airport said the works were dependent on the weather and the dates and times were subject to recommended passengers checked Knowsley Council's website for any updates. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
