Aviation Expert Blasts FAA

Michael Boyd Says Agency Is Years Behind In Technology And Senior Management

(CBS)  With all the concerns about terrorism at United States airports, air travelers may now have another thing to worry about.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating five near mid-air collisions in the New York area during May. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a close call involving two planes at San Francisco International airport last month. A departing plane was taking off on the same lane being used by an arriving plane.

Aviation expert Michael Boyd believes that if the FAA admits to five incidents, the number is probably as high as 15.

"Well, the problem is, our air traffic control system is years behind in terms of technology and eons behind in terms of senior management," he told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

Boyd, president of aviation research firm The Boyd Group, says the FAA is incompetent, Congress is complicit and air traffic controllers are over-stretched and understaffed.

"The FAA has no fire under them," he said. "The Congress does not put pressure on the FAA. The administrator comes in, says we're working on it, walks out and the hearing's over. It's so outrageous."

Boyd, who began his career with American Airlines in 1971, says this problem is not new and there is no reason to think it will be solved anytime soon. The major problem, Boyd says, is the system is built without accountability and no one in management ever gets fired when something goes wrong.

"It's a controller — you know, losing his health, working in front of a screen, that takes all the heat," he said. "They're understaffed and under-managed."

For example, Boyd said in Lexington, Ky., last summer, an airplane used the wrong runway but there was only one controller in the tower when FAA standards say there should have been two.

"They don't hold themselves to their own standards," he said. "We've got to get people at the top of the FAA who are professionals, not political appointees. That's what we're dealing with."

But in addition to air traffic controller staffing, Boyd said there are many problems with the system and bad equipment. Last week, he noted, the entire East Coast system went down; last month, the West Coast system failed. Despite all this, Boyd said he wouldn't necessarily stay off of planes.

"I'm not scared to fly, but we could be a whole lot safer than we are now and the skies really aren't crowded," he said. "What's crowded is the FAA — not managing it properly."

[faahope]

Where were these Congressman and Senators in the past 5 years when the air traffic controllers were telling them this would become an issue? They did nothing then why now, when it is to late and most are retired or planning to retire. It%u2019s like closing the barn door after the horse has left.

[atltracon]

I am an air traffic controller at Atlanta TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) and have been a controller for over 22 years.
We have been working 6 day weeks (every week) 10 hours a day (about 4 x's a week) for almost 1 straight year. We are like zombies at work and at home (what little time there is there).
Do you, as a member of the flying public, want the controller that is in charge of your aircraft well rested, or exhausted?
Not only here, at the facility that controls the busiest airport in the world%u2019s airspace, but throughout the entire nation the paramount professionals that we controllers are cannot wait to retire due to the thrashing and mismanagement the current administration has thrown upon the greatest air traffic system in the world. What once was the greatest job in the world, and yes we do get paid well for what we do but most people cannot do what we do, is now so draining that it sometimes becomes dangerous.
Short staffing/more traffic, timed bathroom breaks, and more childish rules than your typical pre-school.
I am a professional and treat my job, and your flight, like it is the most important in the world. Our administrator should do the same and maybe we wouldn%u2019t be retiring in droves.

[roesch21]

Our administrator should do the same and maybe we wouldn%u2019t be retiring in droves.

Posted by ATLTRACON at 10:03 AM : Jun 12, 2007

No, please continue leaving in "droves". My father is an ATC down in Hampton, GA and has beed for 18 years. I'm 23 and being an ATC has been my life-long goal. Unfortunately about 3 years the FAA shut down secondary ATC schools and started hiring from the military only. This was a devistating blow for me. Recently though the FAA has reinstated the screening process in Oklahoma and decided to start hiring off the streets again. This is a wonderful opportunity that i am greatful for so please stop whining atltracon...take your 6 figure salary and go find someone else to pity you.

[atltracon]

Roesch,
Where do you get your information. The FAA NEVER shut down the CTI schools. They are only too happy to have you spend 70K+ of your own money, money they then don't have to spend, to get a 2nd-3rd rate "ATC" education. Obviously you are young (23) because $8.62 an hour (the new FAA entry salary) is more than a joke it is a slap in the face of every new person coming on the job, hopefully you included). I too had a lifelong dream of becoming an air traffic controller, but just like if you beat a dog long enough no matter how much you try to make it up to him (or pay him)it is too late.
Do the job for 22 years and then tell me I'm whining, you have absolultly no idea what you are taking about.
Go to Google and then type in themainbang read about how your prospective employeer is going to treat you and good luck.

[tburzio]

I thought that global warming prevention would stop the massively carbon producing airplane flights, right? In any event, the inevitable war with Iran certainly would stop them. If so, why should we invest in airport infrastructure?

Roesch21, you have a lot to learn. Hopefully, you learned a lesson when you trusted the FAA to honor their word. The CTI program is still up and running. The FAA is just now realizing that CTI graduates will barely put a dent in the shortage and that the situation is only getting worse. So now they are taking "warm bodies". Go ahead 21, be one of those warm bodies and add yourself to the meat grinder. I am glad that you are so willing to take whatever pittance the government has to offer. Go ahead and scoff at us obviously overpaid controllers at Atlanta and Detroit. Step right up and vector next to me during the noon balloon. You can brag how cheap the FAA got you to do the same job I have been doing for the past seventeen years. I wonder though. Will you still be bragging when you start having "atc dreams" (ask any controller, we all have them). Will you still be bragging when you lose your hair at 25? Will you still be bragging when you lose your family at 30?(the atc divorce rate is on par with policemen). Will you still be bragging in seventeen years when the FAA decides YOU are overpaid and they can impose new work rules and salary on YOU?