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Two U.S. senators are calling for increased funding and staffing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a tragic midair collision near Washington Reagan National Airport. The January 29 accident, involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, claimed 67 lives, marking the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in over two decades.
In a letter first reported by Reuters, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D) and John Hoeven (R) urged the FAA to collaborate with Congress to modernize facilities, enhance equipment, and expand training capacity. They emphasized the urgent need to address the persistent shortage of air traffic controllers, noting the FAA is 3,500 controllers below its target. Reagan National’s tower, for instance, has only 25 fully certified controllers instead of the required 30.
The senators highlighted the excessive workloads many controllers face, often working six-day weeks and ten-hour shifts, increasing fatigue and stress. "We must reinforce our workforce to prevent further tragedies," they stated.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the FAA’s outdated technology and announced plans to enhance air traffic control training and hiring efforts. He is also considering incentives to retain retirement-eligible controllers and possibly extending the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Before the crash, air traffic control supervisors had consolidated positions for helicopters and aircraft. Duffy now intends to reverse this policy to ensure proper staffing levels in control towers.
The FAA has yet to respond to the senators' call for action. As air traffic continues to grow, lawmakers stress that addressing these critical safety issues is essential to ensuring passenger safety and preventing future accidents.
