This Legislation Would Increase Safety at Our Nations Airports
Texas Insider Report: HOUSTON Texas - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security recently introduced H.R. 1600 The Minimum Staffing of Air Traffic Controllers Act of 2011" in response to the various instances across the country in which air traffic controllers were found to be sleeping on the job. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released the following statement regarding her legislation:
As the incidents and concerns grow regarding our countrys air traffic controllers and our Nations aviation safety I have introduced common sense legislation to ensure the safety of our skies. However let me be clear from the outset it is not my desire to vilify Americas air traffic controllers. Air traffic controllers perform a stressful complicated job and they perform their assigned tasks well.
On 9/11 air traffic controllers were vital to keeping the skies safe and providing guidance to pilots. The problem lies within the personnel and oversight policies regarding our countrys airports. It is critical for our Nations safety and security that they be well staffed. I commend Secretary LaHood for issuing new and immediate rule changes to the shift policies for air traffic controllers but there is still a vital need for a multiple staffing mandate. My legislation would correct this problem and require a minimum of two air traffic controllers to be on duty and physically with the air traffic control rooms during all times of flight operations."
So far this year the Department of Transportation has reported seven separate incidents of air traffic controllers sleeping on the job. In response Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood implemented new anti-fatigue rules for air traffic controllers that would increase the minimum time between shifts and force managers to restructure their schedules in order to better monitor times when employees are most likely to be fatigued. However Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lees legislation would go one step further and require a minimum of 2 air traffic controllers to be on duty and physically situated in the air traffic control room during periods of commercial flight operations at U.S. airports.
Our domestic airspace must be monitored at all times" commented Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Our system is clearly not impervious to the effects of human error and all it takes is one accident for us to regret not acting earlier. Commercial aircraft have always had at least two pilots so why would we not have similar standards for air traffic controllers performing an equally critical function?"
According to the Houston Airport System Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) ranks 3rd in the United States among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service (over 170 destinations). Nearly 40 million passengers passed through IAH in 2009 and more than 700 daily departures occur at IAH. IAH is the 8th largest international passenger gateway in the nation and the 8th busiest airport in the U.S. for total passengers. IAH is home to 18 passenger airlines 5 terminals and 11 all-cargo airlines.
Congresswoman Jackson Lee a long-serving Member of Congress and a senior Member of the Committee on Homeland Security has worked enthusiastically over the years to keep Houston at the forefront of discussions regarding the security of our nations airports.
