United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2004-06-15 monographic deposited born digital 18 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-887T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T P0b002ee18037b05d f:d04887t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T GAO-04-887T Air traffic control systems Air traffic controllers Working conditions Labor force Personnel management Federal employees Personnel recruiting Education or training Hiring policies Attrition rates Systems conversions Productivity in government Planning Retired personnel Personnel qualifications Testimony A10542 In the summer of 2000, the air traffic control system lacked the capacity to handle demand efficiently, and flight delays produced near-gridlock conditions at several U.S. airports. A combination of factors, including the crises instigated by the events of 9/11, temporarily reduced air traffic, but air traffic is now back to near pre-9/11 levels. The ability of the air traffic control system to handle expected traffic in coming years may depend in part on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) effectiveness in planning for a long-expected wave of air traffic controller retirements. GAO's testimony focuses on (1) the magnitude and timing of the pending wave of air traffic controller retirements, (2) the challenges FAA faces in ensuring that well-qualified air traffic controllers are ready to step into the gap created by the expected large number of retirements, and (3) challenges that will affect the ability of the air traffic controller workforce to meet future changes in the airline industry and use of airspace. GAO's statement is based on past reports on the air traffic controller workforce, including GAO's 2002 report that surveyed controllers and analyzed controller workforce data. GAO has updated this work through interviews with and the collection of data from key stakeholders in the aviation community. This work was performed in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T.pdf GAO-04-887T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-887T Testimony GAO-04-887T; Federal Aviation Administration: Plan Still Needed to Meet Challenges to Effectively Managing Air Traffic Controller Workforce; Air traffic control systems Air traffic controllers Working conditions Labor force Personnel management Federal employees Personnel recruiting Education or training Hiring policies Attrition rates Systems conversions Productivity in government Planning Retired personnel Personnel qualifications