Answering criticism from the air-traffic controllers’ union, a Federal Aviation Administration official said Wednesday that three air-traffic facilities in the Denver area have enough controllers to ensure safe flying at Denver International Airport and other Colorado airports.
Last week, local leaders of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association highlighted “two serious crises facing the aviation system” – an acute staffing shortage and archaic equipment at local air-traffic facilities.
According to the union, those facilities include DIA’s tower, the terminal radar approach control operation near DIA and one in Longmont that handles high-altitude air traffic for Colorado and surrounding states.
But Steve Stcynske, acting manager of the FAA radar facility near DIA, said Wednesday that all three air-traffic operations will have enough newly trained controllers to replace those scheduled for retirement.
Air-traffic controllers must retire at 56.
To illustrate why current staffing levels are adequate, Stcynske said the number of “operational errors” by controllers has declined 13 percent in the past year while airline traffic has increased by 1 percent in the same period.
