FAA Inspector General Finds Massive Controller Shortage as Flight Numbers Soar

EXCERPT:

CUTLER (voice-over): "Those are the findings of an inspector general's report that looked at how the FAA is overseeing towers that are staffed by contract air traffic controllers. There are more than 260 of them across the country. They're typically at smaller, less busy airports. There are seven of them in Arizona alone, some of them in Phoenix's busy airspace. Over the last 10 years, while the number of flights have gone up, the number of FAA controllers has gone down according to a government watchdog."
KIEFER: "What's going on with the contract tower situation is the same that's going on right now with the FAA. But it's worse."
CUTLER: "Tim Kiefer spent more than 20 years as an air traffic controller. He now teaches air traffic management at Embry-Riddle."
KIEFER: "Those controllers are certified professional controllers. Are they FAA certified professional controllers? No. But they do have to go through a certification process, a training process, very, very similar to what FAA controllers have to go through."
CUTLER: "Kiefer says working at a contract tower used to be a good way to get experience, a stepping stone to get into the FAA where pay and benefits are better."
KIEFER: "If the FAA is having problem staffing, then obviously the contract towers are definitely going to have a problem staffing."