Schumer Blasts FAA Plan to Transfer Expert Aviation Weathermen and Engineers Out of NYC Area - Plan Could Make Flight Delays Even Worse, Compromise Safety

Press Release

SCHUMER BLASTS FAA PLAN TO TRANSFER EXPERT AVIATION WEATHERMEN AND ENGINEERS OUT OF NYC AREA - PLAN COULD MAKE FLIGHT DELAYS EVEN WORSE, COMPROMISE SAFETY

FAA Would Send Local Weather Monitors Out of NYC Area As Part of Nationwide Consolidation -Make Local Forecasts Less Current and Accurate, Could Increase Back-Ups

FAA Also Considering Shipping Nearly 100 Engineers Out of the NYC Area - Very Same Engineers Vital to Upgrading System and Installing New Technology

With NYC Airspace and Airports the Most Complex and Congested in the World, Schumer to Say NYC Needs Local Experts on the Ground to Ensure Fliers Move Quickly and Safely

Despite flight delays crippling the skies over New York and a recent rash of terrifying accidents, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the FAA is considering dramatically scaling down its New York based operations by transferring more than 100 vital personnel who oversee safety and efficiency and actively monitor the weather. The FAA's plans are part of a nationwide consolidation plan that would dramatically reduce staff in New York, moving the very people with unique knowledge of the New York system needed to react to changing weather conditions and implement delay reduction technology and safety initiatives to new areas. Each one of the FAA's 21 regional air route traffic control centers across the country, including the two that cover the New York City area, has a forecast unit that provides face-to-face weather guidance to air traffic controllers and their supervisors. Schumer said with New York City's airspace so congested and so complex, there needs to be local eyes on the skies to make sure flights move safely and quickly.

"We need all hands on deck to make sure things run safely and smoothly at New York City's airports," Schumer said. "Our airspace and airports are the most complex and congested in the world and to move the local experts away is simply penny wise and pound foolish. The bottom line is the FAA's consolidation plans could compromise air travel safety and reduce the efficiency of travel in New York City and we simply cannot allow that to happen."

Under the proposed change, the 86 meteorologists working at those 21 sites would be consolidated at facilities in College Park, Md., and Kansas City, Mo. The typical center, including the New York Center located in Ronkonkoma, NY, has between four and six active meteorologists on staff. The New York Center covers high altitude flights over the New York City area, with the Boston center and the Cleveland Center covering upstate New York.

The current system has "high altitude centers," which often cover several states. It was put into place more than three decades ago after a deadly plane crashed in Georgia during a severe thunderstorm. Federal safety officials said problems with quickly analyzing the conditions may have contributed to the crash, however, technological advances can't make up for on-the-ground expertise.

Government weather experts have worked side-by-side with air-traffic controllers since 1978 after the National Transportation Safety Board ruled that a crash the previous year was because flight crews could not get quick updates on hazardous weather. At least four meteorologists are assigned to each air-route traffic control center to provide real-time, face-to-face updates and warnings about turbulent weather that could affect flights.

Schumer also said the engineering job transfers could have a significant impact on the effort to reduce delays and improve safety at New York City airports because the very engineers that the FAA is considering relocating are the same professionals who would play a critical role in implementing the recommended improvements and installing the new technology needed to unclog the skies over New York City. The nearly 100 engineers have unique knowledge of the New York City airspace and are a vital part of making the airspace run efficiently.

To transfer them thousands of miles away would make it significantly more difficult for these engineers to monitor the workings of the airports and effectively make the long overdue improvements and upgrades. In addition, Schumer said many of the engineers might not make the move to Atlanta and chose instead to leave the FAA entirely, forcing the FAA to bring in new professionals who may not know the New York airspace as well. The FAA's move is part of a national plan that would presumably reduce or eliminate positions for experienced engineers at the regional offices throughout the country including, Anchorage, Burlington/Nashua, Chicago, Kansas City, and Los Angeles as well as New York.

The pending consolidation would be the latest of several administrative actions to reduce personnel in the regional offices. Last year, the FAA consolidated the Air Traffic Organization's administrative and technical support services, and the previous year, the FAA consolidated financial accounting services at the regional offices. This led to the relocation of over 100 employees from the Eastern Region Office to Atlanta. The continued consolidation fits into a pattern that suggests plans to consolidate the FAA's nine regional offices into three offices, which would then be expected to serve all fifty states.

Today, Schumer wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to direct the FAA to scrap the plan.

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