![]() For example, a controller managing aircraft in and out of Chicago- O’Hare, is clearly going to receive a significantly higher salary than a controller that works at a small regional airport in a more rural location. Utilizing supposed “averages” as a debating point is disingenuous, because, like any highly-skilled profession, compensation varies greatly depending on experience, seniority and geographic location.In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that the average salary for Air Traffic Controllers is $99,710 - nowhere near the salary level being suggested by the FAA.The FAA inflated that number by including within it standard benefits for Federal employees.Their study put America’s air traffic control system at a remarkable 74% more productive than their European counterpart.Īs to the FAA’s comments about our average pay being $166,000, here are the facts: In fact, the high productivity level of these air traffic controllers was documented by the European air traffic control organization, Eurocontrol.With the reduction of 1,000 controllers over the past seven years and a substantial increase in air traffic, the remaining 14,500 have to work harder and longer, to keep the more congested skies, safe for American travelers. And the additional 14% earned by controllers was more than covered by increased productivity and efficiency, to make up for staffing shortages never addressed by the FAA.The average Federal employee’s wages increased by 54% during the same time period.Rather than productively working with the union to address these issues, the FAA is trying to bury them under a cloud of blame.Īs for the FAA’s comments about our last contract and the pay raises it gave controllers (NewsWire, Nov. The FAA has failed to invest in modernization and failed to address a looming staffing crisis.There is now one supervisor for every six air traffic controllers. What is provable is that under the current Administrator, middle management at the FAA has ballooned.But while they try to blame these cost increases on air traffic control salaries, even the Administrator cannot provide accurate cost control or financial data to back up those claims. Under the current Administrator, FAA costs have gone up.Several ways controllers earn their salary, on top of base pay - including training new controllers and serving in supervisory roles - would be wiped out under the FAA proposal, thereby reducing pay for many controllers by as much as 20 percent.Let’s keep in mind the facts here: These goals include important safety and operational components, including the reduction of runway incursions and operational errors as well as capacity goals.The FAA’s pay proposal, conversely, seeks to cut controller pay, not freeze it, as the administrator said on Monday ( NewsWire, Dec. This system that we endorse substitutes automatic step increases with a system where pay raises are only earned when agency goals (set by the Administrator) are met. The NATCA proposal preserves the important pay-for-performance component. This proposal would require no new FAA investment for implementation and would continue to leave the annual federal pay raise at the discretion of Congress and the President’s pay agent.Of even greater concern, the FAA is attempting to strip out an important incentive program that encourages a safer air traffic control system. NATCA has proposed the current pay table, meaning the status quo would be maintained for pay rules throughout the term of the agreement. Editor’s Note: This opinion piece from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is in response to a letter from an AVweb reader about recent negotiations between the FAA and NATCA.įirst of all, NATCA is not proposing a pay increase.
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