TENAFLY, N.J. — As flight delays continue to test travelers across the New York and New Jersey region, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer is pressing federal officials for answers on a problem that hits close to home for Bergen County residents: persistent air traffic control staffing shortages.
Gottheimer said the public deserves greater transparency about staffing levels at the facilities responsible for managing some of the nation's busiest airspace, including the airspace around Newark Liberty International Airport.
"Our air traffic controllers are already stretched thin, and the public has a right to know what's happening, especially when it comes to the safety of both our air traffic controllers and the millions of people who depend on it each and every day," Gottheimer said.
The concerns come after several New York-New Jersey air traffic control facilities issued staffing-trigger advisories Aug. 7, warning that staffing could fall below established thresholds.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed delays in part on controllers calling out sick, saying as many as 40% to 60% of controllers in the region did not report for work. But the staffing problems run deeper.
A two-year agreement that temporarily moved 12 controllers from Long Island to Philadelphia to help manage Newark's airspace expired earlier this month. Six of those controllers have since returned to Long Island.
The Philadelphia facility was already operating with significant staffing shortages. The Long Island facility also has struggled for years to recruit and retain controllers.
The issue is particularly relevant to Bergen County commuters and travelers, with Newark serving as the region's primary commercial airport and Teterboro handling a significant amount of private aviation.
The FAA says it is accelerating recruitment and training, with thousands of new controllers hired or currently in various stages of training.
Gottheimer said that effort must translate into properly staffed facilities.
"Whether people are flying for business or to see loved ones, they deserve peace of mind that our skies are safe and towers are well-staffed," he said.
