April 4
So, the two new sups will come from the current controllers, the staffing numbers are always being scrutinized, and none of this will probably be attained for at least six months due to the application process to be promoted. Just more FAA-speak for “we’re doing something, even though the effectiveness may not show results for a year.”
I am appalled that a CISM team has not been to the facility yet! They should have been on site within 2 weeks or less after the accident. No wonder there’s still animosity and a lot of mental strain in the ranks. Both NATCA and the management should have been pushing to get them on board.
To me, the operations in the area are the culprit, backed up by the thousands of TCAS alerts. The situational awareness of who is where doing what is being bolstered by automation and the expectation of following a helo path with little guarantee they are really at the required altitude. To many frequencies, too many operations in a compact area, and the commercial traffic isn’t on board with who’s in conflict.
April 4
… and “pretty little flowers in a vase at every station”. Only one of those “measures” will do much to improve the stress levels of the controllers, and that’s only a “review” of staffing numbers.
The time is long-overdue to turn DCA into parkland. Politicians can take the Metro to IAD like everyone else.
1 reply
April 4
▶ Aviatrexx
The CISM folk should have been on site within a few hours, not as an “after thought” month or so after the event! Retired controller here and I don’t remember the FAA ever having a CISM team. PSA 182 in SAN, USAir 1493 LAX, Asiana 214 SFO. There should be a controller support “go team” attached to each FAA region. Law enforcement has them.
1 reply
April 4
▶ Flyboy920
Agreed. It’s about time they did something. But waiting over two months defeats the whole purpose of CISM, which is to step in early and help prevent long-term stress injuries like burnout, PTSD, or a total loss of confidence.
By the way, add the 1986 Aeromexico DC-9 and Piper Archer midair over Cerritos, California to your list, that was another tragic example where controllers were deeply affected and support came too little, too late. These patterns aren’t new, and we should’ve learned by now.
1 reply
April 5
▶ Raf
That’s the nature of bureaucracies, be they government, NGO, or business.
How to change them is a fundamental question.
Enunciate principles, coach on them, fire evaders.
1 reply
April 5
▶ RationalityKeith
If you work for the FAA, you have been under pressure since forever to do more with less. The written rules are in the FAR/AIM/Etc. and you will be punished if you do not follow them, the unwritten rules are to violate all that stuff and keep everything moving and you will be punished if you do not follow them.
This is psych 101 how to drive people crazy.
April 8
Has staffing been increased?
Busy airports with complex procedures (like SFO’s) require more attention and mental processing.
