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The Federal Aviation Administration has urgently requested action to be taken following a string of close calls at airports in the United States.
The Federal Aviation Administration has appointed a team to conduct a safety review, which found multiple near-miss incidents at US airports in the past few months. This has led to calls for immediate action to address the issue.
On Wednesday, the review team published a report of 52 pages that identified staffing shortages in air traffic control, technology problems, and lack of funding as the causes for the incidents.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is facing a difficult task of managing an overburdened system with limited resources, and a recent string of concerning incidents in early 2023 has shed light on the significant obstacles to providing and regulating air traffic services. The report, led by former FAA administrator Michael Huerta, acknowledges that there are no simple solutions or quick fixes to these challenges within the system.
The report recommended enhancing the organizational structures of the FAA by establishing defined roles and responsibilities and promoting a proactive, data-driven approach to safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board has initiated seven probes into close-call scenarios since January, including ones that were potentially disastrous.
After the Federal Aviation Administration announced a decrease in flight numbers in August within the vicinity of New York City due to understaffing.
The duration of the cut was prolonged from September to October 2024.
“Tonight, due to limited staffing, the FAA will be controlling air traffic in certain areas of New York City to ensure safety,” stated the FAA.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a warning for immediate action following a string of close calls at airports in the United States.
The staffing at New York Terminal Radar Approach Control is currently only at 54% of the recommended levels.
In June, a report from a government oversight group revealed that important air traffic facilities are struggling with staffing issues, putting air traffic operations at risk. Many of these facilities are experiencing shortages and as a result, controllers are being required to work overtime and six-day weeks.
A recent report from the FAA stated that near collisions are occurring more often in the United States. While there have been no significant plane accidents in the US for over a decade, there has been an increase in potentially hazardous incidents.
According to the report, there were a minimum of 46 near-miss occurrences in July involving commercial airlines. These incidents happened on a frequent basis, with multiple instances each week, and involved all US airlines across the country.
In August, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Cessna Citation 560X business jet came less than 100 feet (30 meters) apart in San Diego. The FAA said an air traffic controller cleared the Cessna to land on a runway even though Southwest Flight 2493 had already been told to taxi onto the same runway.
In March, the FAA announced plans to enhance its air traffic control procedures due to understaffing. The leader of the FAA’s air traffic division expressed concern over the high number of near misses.
Source: independent.co.uk
