Miami

Media Coverage | Fact Sheet

MIAMI AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

A Staffing Crisis: By The Numbers

MIAMI AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER

• The facility is authorized to have 100 controllers on board, according to FAA.
• There are 78 certified professional controllers (CPCs, fully trained) on board and 8 trainees.
• 15 controllers will be eligible to retire by June 2006.
• 50 percent of the current controller workforce will be eligible to retire by 2008.

(NOTE: To become eligible to retire, a controller must either have worked 20 years and reach 50 years of age, or worked 25 years and be any age)

MIAMI AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER

• The facility is authorized to have 279 controllers on board, according to FAA.
• There are 209 certified professional controllers (CPCs, fully trained) on board and 41 trainees.
• 11 controllers are retiring by the end of 2005.
• 9 controllers will be retiring by the end of 2006.
• By 2007, another 11 controllers will be retiring.

In addition, on October 27th, Miami Center’s airspace will be expanded to include four new sectors and an additional 30 controllers.  Unfortunately, the FAA hasn’t given the already short staffed Miami Center any more controllers.  There is a request for an emergency 20 controllers to join the facility, but they’ll only be around for 4-6 months.  It takes 2 ½ -3 months to train controllers on the new airspace.