The Trump administration is making moves to overhaul the struggling air traffic control system by proposing a 30% pay hike for controllers.
The effort, spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, aims to attract new recruits and retain experienced professionals amid a growing shortage in the field, as reported by The New York Post.
Duffy made the announcement Thursday during a press conference at the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma, emphasizing the need for competitive wages to keep up with industry demands.
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Duffy didn’t mince words about the outdated pay structure and technology currently used in air traffic control.
“Currently, students are paid $17.61 an hour. By the way, you might be able to go to Walgreens and make that, right? So we’re going to bump it up to $22.84 an hour.”
But the real draw, according to Duffy, is what comes after training.
“And again, I think making sure people have a wage that can allow them to live while they’re going through school. But the real incentive is, again, three years out of this academy, and you’re certified, on average, $160,000 a year. So you can be 24 years old, 23 years old, making a great salary, as an air traffic controller.”
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The proposed pay increase, however, will require Congress to approve additional funding, potentially in the billions, for the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The urgency of the initiative isn’t just about keeping up with inflation or job market competition. It follows a troubling series of aviation incidents that have raised concerns over safety and staffing levels.
While most of these incidents were not directly blamed on air traffic controllers, the strain on the system has been undeniable.
One of the most alarming cases happened just this week when a Southwest Airlines jet nearly collided with a Flexjet business plane on a Chicago runway.
Reports indicate that the Flexjet pilot disregarded air traffic control instructions and crossed the active runway just as the Southwest plane was coming in to land.
Quick reflexes from the Southwest pilots prevented a disaster, as they managed to take off again just in time to avoid a collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident, and President Trump himself weighed in, saying the Flexjet pilots should lose their licenses if they’re found at fault.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has thrown his hat into the ring, calling on retired air traffic controllers to return to work to help alleviate the shortage.
With Congress holding the purse strings, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will back Trump’s proposal for higher wages or continue allowing the aviation system to buckle under outdated policies and neglected reforms.
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