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From the New York Times: Staffing at the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” according to an internal preliminary Federal Aviation Administration safety report about the collision that was reviewed by The New York Times.
The controller who was handling helicopters in the airport’s vicinity Wednesday night was also instructing planes that were landing and departing from its runways. Those jobs typically are assigned to two controllers, rather than one.
This increases the workload for the air traffic controller and can complicate the job. One reason is that the controllers can use different radio frequencies to communicate with pilots flying planes and pilots flying helicopters. While the controller is communicating with pilots of the helicopter and the jet, the two sets of pilots may not be able to hear each other.
The report explains that the traffic control tower at the Reagan airport has been understaffed for years, operating with nearly one third fewer staffers than what they needed.
Many controllers have reportedly been working up to six days a week and 10 hours a day.
Many other air traffic control facilities across the country are experiencing the same problem, the Times wrote.
Staffing at DCA’s control tower was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” per preliminary FAA report seen by the @nytimes. A controller was handling jobs typically assigned to two controllers rather than one. @melbournecoal @emilysteel https://t.co/ebox8xQI9A
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) January 30, 2025
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