Kate Kelly

One famous example of this occurred in 2019 when there was a government shutdown and about 10 controllers in different spots around the country called in sick on a given day. And the political pressure with stranded passengers and canceled flights became so great that that the government essentially reopened.

One famous example of this occurred in 2019 when there was a government shutdown and about 10 controllers in different spots around the country called in sick on a given day. And the political pressure with stranded passengers and canceled flights became so great that that the government essentially reopened.

So there are cases in which the staffing is just so low that the FAA says, basta, we can't continue flying. They are case by case periodically slowing flights or grounding flights. But to my knowledge, they haven't proactively cut off the number of flights that can come in and out of Newark right now.

So there are cases in which the staffing is just so low that the FAA says, basta, we can't continue flying. They are case by case periodically slowing flights or grounding flights. But to my knowledge, they haven't proactively cut off the number of flights that can come in and out of Newark right now.

Yeah, so Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who just came in in January, has been pretty outspoken about this in general and in recent days. He has said that the technology is antiquated. He has said that we need to move far ahead in terms of modernizing that technology. He also wants to solve for the staffing problems.

Yeah, so Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who just came in in January, has been pretty outspoken about this in general and in recent days. He has said that the technology is antiquated. He has said that we need to move far ahead in terms of modernizing that technology. He also wants to solve for the staffing problems.

He's already introduced some enhanced pay and incentives for people to consider joining the FAA as controllers. And they seem like they're committed to cutting red tape, investing where necessary, putting in better technology, and so on. So I think the momentum and the commitment are there in theory. And I think they may be able to move forward more expeditiously than some of their forebears.

He's already introduced some enhanced pay and incentives for people to consider joining the FAA as controllers. And they seem like they're committed to cutting red tape, investing where necessary, putting in better technology, and so on. So I think the momentum and the commitment are there in theory. And I think they may be able to move forward more expeditiously than some of their forebears.

On the other hand, these are not quick fixes. Maybe they'll come up with some innovative ideas for bringing in new, fresh talent and fast-tracking them, but they can only track them so fast. And if the technology is not backed up and consistent, it's not going to help anyone.

On the other hand, these are not quick fixes. Maybe they'll come up with some innovative ideas for bringing in new, fresh talent and fast-tracking them, but they can only track them so fast. And if the technology is not backed up and consistent, it's not going to help anyone.

Yeah, I think it's a fair question and one that I can't readily answer. I do know something about air traffic control, for example, in Washington, D.C., and it's absolutely got its own set of challenges. And while staffing has been a problem there, too, they have a totally separate issue, which is just the complexity of their airspace with helicopters flying in and out.

Yeah, I think it's a fair question and one that I can't readily answer. I do know something about air traffic control, for example, in Washington, D.C., and it's absolutely got its own set of challenges. And while staffing has been a problem there, too, they have a totally separate issue, which is just the complexity of their airspace with helicopters flying in and out.

And that became the issue during this terrible crash in January. So I think what's tricky about this conversation is every airport, every airspace is nuanced in its own way. That's why these controllers spend years even getting up to par on the place where they're working.

And that became the issue during this terrible crash in January. So I think what's tricky about this conversation is every airport, every airspace is nuanced in its own way. That's why these controllers spend years even getting up to par on the place where they're working.

Yeah, it's rational. But I also think statistically aviation is safe. The FAA does have basic guardrails that we need to rely on them to put in place. And even in this case, the airline that is a major user of this particular airport is telling us we're keeping safety first and foremost. We're dialing back some of our operations here and we're going to lean on the FAA to do more as well.

Yeah, it's rational. But I also think statistically aviation is safe. The FAA does have basic guardrails that we need to rely on them to put in place. And even in this case, the airline that is a major user of this particular airport is telling us we're keeping safety first and foremost. We're dialing back some of our operations here and we're going to lean on the FAA to do more as well.

That's right.

That's right.

And I have to say, I'm not a nervous flyer, but I've had a hard time flying out of Washington Reagan since the crash in January that I've been covering, just because I know how complex that airspace is, and I know that they, too, are dealing with staffing shortages.

And I have to say, I'm not a nervous flyer, but I've had a hard time flying out of Washington Reagan since the crash in January that I've been covering, just because I know how complex that airspace is, and I know that they, too, are dealing with staffing shortages.