Colorado's significant air traffic controller shortages
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The tower that controls air traffic at Denver International Airport is short seven controllers, and the facility that guides planes in the surrounding area is down 10, a recent FAA report shows.
Why it matters: January's mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter in Washington D.C., is bringing fresh attention to the staffing shortages, which are a longstanding problem.
- It's unclear if such shortages played a role in that incident — which claimed 67 lives — but investigators are considering that potential.
State of play: All eight airport towers and approach/departure facilities in Colorado lacked sufficient controllers, based on a 2023 goal set jointly by the FAA and the air traffic controllers' union.
- The vacancy rate at the Aspen, Pueblo, Centennial and Colorado Springs airports all reached 30% or greater, an Axios Denver analysis found.
- Collectively, the state is short 50 controllers at the eight locations.
Between the lines: The problem is less pronounced at DIA, but it still exists.
- Denver's tower is short 17% of its target workforce of 41 controllers, while the nearby facility that covers approach and departures is down 11%.
What they're saying: DIA referred questions to the FAA, which did not return Axios' request for comment.
The big picture: Airports across the nation are grappling with shortages. Of 313 total FAA facilities included in the report, only 23 met or exceeded their staffing goal.