The Gov't Finally Takes Action Against Weathermen
Oops! Not those Weathermen.
This administration can take over banks, insurance companies and two of the Big 3 automakers, but it can't seem to hang on to meteorologists at some of the nation's airports.
Proposal Suggests Closing Weather Offices at 20 Airports
It's possible that technology would safely allow fewer on-site meteorologists.The federal government yesterday moved forward with a controversial proposal that would close weather offices at 20 regional air traffic control centers around the country and instead provide controllers with forecasts from two central units in Maryland and Missouri.
The consolidation plan came under immediate fire from unions representing National Weather Service employees and air traffic controllers, which charged that the change will endanger aviation safety.
"Air traffic controllers will no longer have the immediate expertise of an on-site meteorologist to advise them where to route aircraft experiencing difficulty when weather conditions play a critical role in that decision," said Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization.
"This is a foolish plan that puts cost savings ahead of safety," said Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "Quite frankly, we cannot believe such a reckless idea has gotten this far."
It is also quite possible that the FAA is entirely too comfortable with its technological expertise, and might one day regret not having real live humans on hand if something broke down.
And sooner or later, something always breaks down.
I just want to know where the 20 airports are so that I can make sure I never fly in or out of them in rough weather.
UPDATE -- If you check the comment section, I stand corrected, and gladly. It's not airports that are losing meteorologists, but the regional control centers that "hand off" air traffic to other controllers.
So it affects a great percentage of all high altitude air traffic. Which means that I may never want to fly again in rough weather.
Labels: Cost Cutting, Weather
posted by Dave the Oklahomilist @ 11:07 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hi Dave,
Bad news for you: We're not actually talking about airports, but rather FAA regional air traffic control facilities that control the entire country's airborne traffic, mostly at higher altitudes. These are where roughly half of all air traffic controllers work.
There are 21 of these "en route centers" across the country and they hand off your flight to one another as you fly from one airport to another, like a relay race, and generally in the middle portion -- or en route -- of your flight at cruising altitude. So any flight you take of modest distance or more is going to be handled by one of these centers and, thus, subject to this foolish decision by both the FAA and the Dept. of Commerce. Unless we stop it first, of course. Any help you and your readers can give to speak out about this plan would be most appreciated. Start with your member of Congress.
-Doug Church
Director of Communications
National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Thanks, Doug. I appreciate the clarification. And you're right: bad news for me and the safety of anyone else who flies.
I'll pass my concern along to my "local" congressman.
Post a Comment
<< Home