Delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport have been pervasive since the air traffic control center was moved from Long Island to Philadelphia. Now the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General is opening an audit to determine what’s gone wrong, including several alarming blackouts involving planes flying in and out of Newark.
Randy Babbitt, a former administrator with the Federal Aviation Administration, spoke with NJ Spotlight News about the move and the problems at Newark Liberty and the air traffic control system in general. He said the shortage of air traffic controllers is the heart of the problems.
“You’ve got a shortage right now of something close to 3,000 air traffic controllers, and it needs funding,” he said. “But even more importantly, it takes time. It’s not a short process. You don’t just go out and hire somebody, give them a manual, and six weeks later, they’re an air traffic controller. It’s about a two-year process, and the retention rate is not exactly at the top of the board either.”
