During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) spoke about 'shortfalls' in the FAA's hiring process for air traffic controllers.
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00:00Thank you. Senator Blunt, Rochester.
00:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you so much to the witnesses.
00:08I have to say, most of my colleagues have noted that we are at a critical juncture for aviation safety
00:16for the sake of our families, our constituents, the flying public,
00:21and we must ensure that the FAA is equipped with every tool necessary to meet the mission
00:27to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.
00:34We know that we have seen some recent catastrophic incidents and near misses,
00:39and they have only underscored the urgency of strengthening oversight, improving coordination,
00:46and updating equipment, including the FAA's IT systems.
00:51But we can't lose sight of the fact that there are other significant variables that drive this crisis,
00:57like the lack of a robust and well-supported aviation workforce.
01:03I just left another hearing where one of the nominees said that their son is now an air traffic controller,
01:13and that was some good news to hear.
01:16And as the former Secretary of Labor in the state of Delaware, I also was head of state personnel,
01:21and I know that a well-prepared workforce is really the lifeblood of any organization.
01:28So I was pleased to see the inclusion of the aviation workforce development provisions in the reauthorization.
01:35And I wanted to just ask some questions about workforce planning.
01:39We know that we have an issue beyond air traffic controllers and aviation safety inspectors,
01:49and I was curious if you could talk a little bit about your workforce planning.
01:55I know in your testimony it says,
01:57So could you talk to me about what you're seeing in terms of people who are retiring, resigning?
02:22Where are your shortfalls?
02:24Where are those areas where you really need the help?
02:29Thank you for the question.
02:30I'll, I'll, if you're all right, can I take this one?
02:32Okay.
02:34So as far as recruitment for our best and our brightest,
02:39right now our academy success rate is not where we would like it to be.
02:44We would like it to be much, much higher.
02:46Um, because quite honestly, if, if, if we're washing out 35% or 30%,
02:52we need to do better because we need more of those people in the field facilities to, to do that.
02:56So I believe what you're referring to is what we call an air traffic skills assessment.
02:59And that's, uh, basically judges somebody's ability, a cognitive skills and ability to multitask being an air traffic controller.
03:06And we want to review that ACET test to make sure that it's identifying the right candidates
03:11that would have a high probability of success to be an air traffic controller.
03:14It, it does take some time to hire, select, and go through the medical process and the security process.
03:20Even though, uh, Secretary Duffy has, has done some things to speed that along.
03:24We still want to make sure that those selections have a higher rate of success.
03:29If we were able to gain another two or three hundred of those candidates and put them in the air traffic system,
03:35that would help with some of our staffing shortfalls.
03:37In speaking with a lot of my friends who are my age, we, we actually went through, um, training together at field facilities,
03:44and they're still, they still love the job.
03:48They, they love being an air traffic controller.
03:50Uh, their big thing right now is, is we need more staffing because they're getting tired.
03:56And I think we owe them a better quality of life.
03:58I do feel that the new CRWG numbers that, that with the help or our partnership with, with NACA that we've implemented,
04:06is definitely going to help that.
04:07And we're also awaiting for the Transportation Research Board to provide their recommendations for our staffing model.
04:13And when that's implemented, we'll be in a better place.
04:15But the good news is, with the new CRWG numbers, that's going to bridge that shortfall.
04:20And we're putting enough people in the pipeline to actually give those controllers and those managers that better quality of life that I'm speaking to.
04:27Also in your testimony, you talked about leveraging partnerships and approved, with approved colleges and universities.
04:33Delaware State University has an incredible aviation program.
04:36Can you talk to us a little bit about who you are leveraging these partnerships with?
04:41We're, right now, we're getting, we're willing to leverage and partner with any university that has interest in the collegiate training initiative.
04:49And if, if they want to take it one step further and do what we call the enhanced collegiate training initiative,
04:54that's where they have simulation training and, and enough of the training that would essentially equal to what they would get our, at our FA Academy.
05:02If colleges are wishing to do that, we will go assess.
05:06And if, if they do pass those standards, we will actually accredit them.
05:10And, and students who go through this program will no longer have to go through the Academy.
05:15If they go through the program and successfully complete it and pass an ATSA test and, of course, receive the net, the necessary medical clearance and the necessary security clearance,
05:23then they bypass the Academy and they're placed at an FA facility.
05:27So for the record, questions for the record will be, number one, would love to understand what actual university, what are the partnerships?
05:37Would love to see the list of the partnerships.
05:41Secondly, would love to follow up with the program that we have at Delaware State University.
05:46Again, it's an aviation program, which I think is really, really important.
05:51And, and lastly, understand a little bit more why, who's, how are you getting them in the door?
05:59What are the things that are getting them?
06:00I know you've mentioned financial incentives, but also mentioned that there are more creative things that you're doing here.
06:05So would love to follow up with you on the workforce aspect of it as well.
06:09Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your patience and I yield back.