Ohio airports face air traffic controller shortage
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A huge share of the country's air traffic control facilities are understaffed, including in Columbus, per the most recent FAA data.
Why it matters: January's midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people is bringing fresh attention to the longstanding staffing shortages.
- It's unclear if such shortages played a role in that crash, but investigators will surely consider the potential.
Zoom in: In Ohio, all but one of the seven air control towers included in the FAA report failed to meet staffing goals set jointly by the FAA and the air traffic controllers' union.
By the numbers: In total, the goal is to employ 201 certified air traffic controllers across those facilities, but only 167 were working as of September 2023 — a statewide vacancy rate of about 17%.
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport had 43 controllers for its tower, which has a goal of 55 and a vacancy rate of nearly 22%.
How it works: The staffing numbers come from the FAA's 2024-2033 air traffic controller workforce plan. They include fully certified controllers and recently transferred controllers who are certified but learning the ins and outs of a new facility.
- Controllers in training who have not yet been fully certified are not included.
What they're saying: A Columbus Regional Airport Authority spokesperson referred questions to the FAA, which is in charge of hiring air traffic controllers.
- In an emailed statement to Axios, the FAA said hiring more is "a top priority."
- When asked if CMH's terminal replacement could change its tower's future staffing goals, the FAA said, "We continually evaluate air traffic control staffing needs at every facility based on various factors, including traffic volume and complexity."
The big picture: Nationwide, just 7% of the 313 facilities included in the report met or exceeded their staffing goal in 2023, per Axios' analysis.
- The FAA has ramped up recruitment efforts, but the path to becoming a fully certified controller is long and arduous.
- They are required to pass regular medical checks for their entire careers and generally must retire at age 56, causing constant attrition.
Go deeper: Air traffic controller shortages are a problem nationwide