I'm an air traffic controller for 3 years now, a graduate from the UAA aviation program. I am an Alaskan and the FAA only offered me a job in MT. Now I am ready to come home, and if they need so much help maybe they should let a qualified controller come to her home town. If its a safety issue then a lot more needs to be done quickly.

Happily FAA Retired.

I worked as an Airtraffic Controller for over 28 years in all phases including Tower, Approach, Center & FSS. I retired back in 1986 so thus worked through the big strike of 81. At that time we were all working overtime, 6 days weekly at 10 hour days. Sure the money was good but after awhile it really got to you. At home, things were really gone to part because of your one day off, all you wanted to do was rest, not work around the house.

After the strike, the FAA had a mass hiring and yes, it took as much as 3 years to get some trainee's fully qualified. Now as early as 2006, 25 years service later, these same persons hired are eligible to retire and a lot are doing so. Many of them are really pxzzczx off at the system and the new 401K retirement plan. Why is the FAA so blind that they could not forsee this situation? Com on, give me a break! They had 25 years to plan for this situation of a mass retiring of controllers. But it is a typical situation where the higher ups in government are always screwed up. Now, it's a little too late.

I didn't make as much salary as they do today, but I am happily retired under the old retirement system. Those were the good old days.

Ok, this sounds like the first baby step on a long hike towards the final solution.

Keep in mind the FAA's motto: We're not happy until you're not happy.

Staffing at Fairbanks tower is still grossly inadequate. Controllers are still being forced to work mandatory overtime, with no end in sight. The new employees that the FAA has hired to work at Fairbanks tower will be in training, a process that historically will last from a year to more than 2 years for trainees with no prior experience. Trainees at Fairbanks will soon outnumber the actual controllers who will be training them. So yeah, the FAA has sent a bunch of people to Fairbanks tower, but the staffing crisis is far from over.

Part of the reason why it is hard to get people to volunteer to take a job at Fairbanks tower is the harsh climate, and of course the cost of living. A new trainee will make $41,451 per year at Fairbanks tower. Once the trainee completes training, he/she will be paid $59,163 per year. Those salaries are base pay at a level 7 FAA facility (which Fairbanks tower is), and those salaries quoted above include 23% cost of living allowance (COLA) provided to federal employees who work in Fairbanks. Sure, you can survive on that salary, but it certainly is not enough to entice potential employees to move to Fairbanks to take the job.

Thankfully, the FAA is trying to address the problem and bring the staffing level back up to an adequate level at Fairbanks tower. Unfortunately, they waited so long to do anything that it will take years for the staffing levels to recover. Controllers will still be forced to work mandatory overtime, and will continue to feel the effects of fatigue due to minimal rest periods. The controllers at Fairbanks tower will do their best, as much as humanly possible, to maintain a safe and efficient flow of traffic into and out of Fairbanks International Airport.

Let’s be accurate and do some real reporting. What is the staffing standard for Fairbanks tower? How many certified, I mean completely trained controllers, are on staff? How many controllers are in training?

I am an Air Traffic Controller in Grand Forks ND. I have seen the hiring stages of the FAA for some 22 years. When the FAA says they're hiring new controllers it's a misnomer. What they are really doing is hiring trainee controllers. A new person, either off the street or from an accredited collegiate program, takes nearly 2-3 years to become fully certified. Granted the management at the facility will use them as they progress upward through the local training program to subsidize the staffing, but it still puts a strain on the facility and flying public as well. Cudos though for moving folks up there....at least they're trying. This is something we (The National Air Traffic Controllers Union) has been warning people about for over 5 years.....sadly it has fallen on deaf ears. (Read FAA)

Chuck Adams

NATCA GFK

Being a controller is not an easy thing. You don't just hire someone and the next day they are vectoring planes around. I think the training is something like a year.

Another classic example of the government blowing smoke up the public's behind. If the issue is resolved then why is Anchorage still working the night time air traffic control duties and why are the controllers still working mandatory overtime every week? Sounds like something needed to be done a long time ago and the problem still isn't fixed!!