Dispute Is Dangerous, Senator Says
Animosity is worsening at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), and now N.Y. Sen. Charles Schumer has called on Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to intervene, citing fears that the dispute between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) could become a threat to safety. “The bottom line is, errors are increasing [a point the FAA disputes], air traffic is increasing and staff numbers are steadily decreasing; in my book this could be a recipe for disaster,” Schumer said last Thursday. “This is not about pointing fingers, it’s about finding solutions.” The bitter dispute between NATCA and the FAA is “endangering the millions of New Yorkers, Americans and world travelers who fly in and out of area airports,” according to Schumer’s news release.
