US offers air traffic controllers 20% bonus to delay retirement as staffing crisis deepens

Transport Minister Sean Duffy said that the key to alleviating a lack of air traffic workers provides retirees to stimulate them to stay in the workforce for a longer period.

In an interview with CBS News, Duffy said it would take some time to increase the workforce of the air traffic controller, but a major piece in doing so is to maintain the most experienced control tools in this field for a longer period.

“I think what is key, we have made a reward for retirement qualified air traffic monitors. We will pay them by 20 % for their salary to stay longer. Don’t retire,” Duffy continued. “With more air traffic control units, and maintaining experienced old controllers, we will be able to compensate for this difference.”

FAA, DOT plan to improve operations at Newark Airport

However, Duffy indicated that it would take months, if not years, to solve the deficiency.

The air traffic control system was under tremendous pressure for years, given Continuous employment lack, Old technology and non -investment in critical infrastructure.

In February, Duffy pledged to address these problems with a new set of “Supercharge the Air Tailr Controller Formerce” procedures.

His announcement came in the wake of the American Eagle Flight 5342 and an army helicopter on January 29 that left all passengers and crews in the plane, and the three helicopters.

Bellot says New Ark Airport “one of the many volcanoes is awaiting outbringing

The regime’s weaknesses have attracted a renewed audit in recent weeks from the Newark Liberty International Airport, which is one of the most crowded activity in the country, as it witnessed the power outages for air control.

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is installing more tower simulation systems across the country so that it can ratify air traffic monitors faster while reducing costs. These systems allow the complex airport training control units, the development of scenarios that deal with safety trends, and to cross the runway crossing and training phrases, according to FAA.

FAA Air Monitoring Tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (Angus Mordant / Bloomberg / Getty Images)

This is in addition to other steps, Duffy said he was taking it to accelerate employment in this field. On the one hand, he tries to expand the chances of veteran military observers, expand the list of qualified facilities and provide financial incentives for the graduates and new appointments who have reached major training features.

The Federal Aviation Administration also plans to reward graduates of the Academy who have been appointed in facilities that are difficult to employed and reduce waiting times for the most important candidates, who in some cases wait for at least a year, for routine medical and security permits.

Get Fox Business on the Go by clicking here

It also expands the number of trainers and the establishment of an educational center at the Air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City. Duffy also simplified employment by changing the eight -step -made recruitment process into a five -step process.

Chris Roshilo, director of Duffy and Rocheleu, also released plans to implement immediately to improve the process of Newark after the power outage.