Martin (of the FAA) told AVweb that to get the funding required for the hiring program from Congress, the agency — and the union — will have to sharpen their pencils. “These are times that present some very valid fiscal constraints and challenges,” Martin said. “We cannot show an unwillingness to work smarter and control our costs. These times of expansive budgets are gone.” Martin said the whole aviation industry is suffering financially and that that has a direct, bottom-line impact on the FAA: “We are not exempt from the same fiscal challenges.” But Carr (of NATCA) suggested that much of the report was structured to soften up the union for the next round of contract negotiations, due to start next year. “That’s patently false,” said Martin. (Can’t we all just get along?) Carr said his initial examination of the 90-page plan (he called the teleconference two hours after receiving a copy) revealed gaps and flaws that make it questionable whether the goals can be reached. “Their numbers just do not add up,” he said. He said he’s particularly concerned about the fast-track training proposals. “Cutting corners on training cuts corners on safety,” he said. “This is nothing more than a Wal-Mart solution wrapped up in a Tiffany’s box.”
…The New Math: Cost Savings, Efficiency Required…
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA, facing significant fiscal constraints, needs to demonstrate cost control and smarter operations to secure congressional funding for hiring, acknowledging that "expansive budgets are gone."
- The air traffic controllers' union (NATCA) disputes the FAA's plan, viewing it as a tactic to soften them for upcoming contract negotiations and asserting that its financial projections and goals are flawed.
- NATCA is particularly concerned that the FAA's proposed fast-track training methods could compromise safety by "cutting corners on training."
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