Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- USU professor Aaron Whittle highlights the urgent need for more air traffic controllers.
- Whittle notes a 98% understaffing rate in air traffic control facilities nationwide.
- Students avoid the field due to stress, despite new educational programs at USU.
LOGAN — As a retired air traffic controller of 20 years, Aaron Whittle says it's hard to see the U.S. dealing with tragedy surrounding a mid-air collision near the nation's Capitol.
"Our heart goes out to these families, to the crew members, to the aviation community," Whittle said. "We all feel it. It hits home, whether it's in D.C. or here in Logan."
Whittle recently came to Utah State University as a professor to help offer a new minor in Air Traffic Control. More than 30 students are on track to graduate with the minor this spring, but none of them plan to take on a stressful career in the tower.
"If you talk to many of the students that I have currently as pilots, I ask how many would be interested in air traffic control, and they shy away. They say, 'No way, that's not for me. It's too stressful, the demands too great,'" Whittle explained.
Whittle says communication is key as air traffic controllers work with pilots to keep everyone safe. The job can be especially tough in areas like Washington, D.C.
"That's a very dense airspace," Whittle said. "There's a lot of operations going on. There's a lot of restrictions. It's just really unfortunate that this incident took place."
Meantime, he says an ongoing shortage of controllers underscores the need to draw interested young people.
"Currently, 98% of air traffic control facilities are understaffed," Whittle said. "That's detrimental to aviation when we're trying to keep planes separated in safe altitudes and separated from one another, and then you take away manpower and add more restraints upon an already stressed job force. That's difficult."
Mental acuity is of paramount importance in the job. Whittle points out that according to FAA regulations, controllers must start their career by age 30 and retire by 56, though they can continue to work in managerial roles.
