America has faced air traffic control shortages for more than a decade with many controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the current Government shutdown.

The problem has got progressively worse since the COVID 19 pandemic with many furloughed Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) deciding not to return to work and opting for early retirement.

Add into the mix, a growing number of near misses, ground incidents, and other serious safety events point to a system that’s under increasing strain.

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 and a United States Army helicopter operating as Priority Air Transport 25 collided mid-air over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed in the crash, including 64 passengers and crew on the airliner and the three crew of the helicopter. 

On that night, the FAA reported they were 30% understaffed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – one person so was doing the job of 2 controlling both planes and helicopters who each use different radio frequencies!

Many ATC facilities are decades old and still using antiquated equipment such as floppy disks and paper flight strips. so you can understand the problem.

Now add in the current Government shutdown and you get this situation in California. On Monday 6th October, Hollywood Burbank Airport had no air traffic controllers at its tower from 4:15 p.m. to 10 p.m as it grappled with staff shortages.

Here’s a great explainer from the Los Angeles TV Station, KTLA.

I’ve had personal experience of Hollywood Burbank Airport, I flew in there from Las Vegas in 2022. It’s a bustling and extremely busy metro airport serving the Greater Los Angles area and used by big American carriers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Are things likely to improve? Well in September, 2024, the  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it exceeded its goal of hiring 1,800 air traffic controllers in 2024, with a final total of 1,811 for Fiscal Year 2024.

As the largest number of hires in nearly a decade, this marks important progress in the FAA’s work to reverse the decades-long air traffic controller staffing level decline.  

But it’s going to take time as the average time to train an Air Traffic Controller is between two and three years. Plus one-third of trainees wash out, according to former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo, who described the process as “rigorous, costly, and mentally exhausting.” Those who succeed can earn a median salary of $144,580 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).