FAA's Answer to ATC Retirement Bubble Staffing Shortfall

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

So you're saying that ATC controllers who have been on the job for a
long time are more expensive than new-hires, and understaffing ATC
facilities will drive out the old hands?


That should be obvious even to you.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...

I'll bet is cheaper to pay two guys for 60 hours each than 3 for 40.

Let's see, 3 guys at 40 hours each is 120 hours of straight time. Two guys
at 60 hours each is 80 hours of straight time and forty hours of time-and-a-
half.

How much would you like to bet?

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news

I think it's reasonable to expect a tired employee to be less
competent than a rested one.

If you disagree, please state your reasons.


So you didn't mean reducing air safety was a goal?

Morgans opined

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
Larry Dighera wrote:
Isn't a policy that reduces staffing, and then authorizes mandatory
overtime (with its federally mandated time-and-a-half pay rate) just a
bit irrational?


I'll bet is cheaper to pay two guys for 60 hours each than 3 for 40.

You bet correctly.

When you consider the benefits, such as vacation, health insurance, and
retirement, and that by not hiring another person that will have to get all
of those benefits, you can afford to pay a lot of overtime.

Don't forget training costs.




-ash
Cthulhu in 2007!
Why wait for nature?

On Thu, 24 May 2007 02:54:02 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote in
k.net:


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .

So you're saying that ATC controllers who have been on the job for a
long time are more expensive than new-hires, and understaffing ATC
facilities will drive out the old hands?


That should be obvious even to you.


How does under staffing motivate (expensive) old hands to retire?

Are they less able to cope with the stress of long hours and high
traffic rates?

Or does their experience permit them to deal with the stresses with
perspicacity?

That is not so obvious?

Private wrote:


Many NA car companies (Delphi, etc) have huge ongoing costs from benefits
due to employees that have not worked for years. IIRC it amounts to ~$1400.
/current car produced. I suspect that a similar situation will apply to the
soon to retire ATC employee benefits.

Once an employee retires the money for retirement does not come out of
the FAA budget. That employee simply disappears as far as the FAA is
concerned.

On Thu, 24 May 2007 03:00:44 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote in
k.net:


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news

I think it's reasonable to expect a tired employee to be less
competent than a rested one.

If you disagree, please state your reasons.


So you didn't mean reducing air safety was a goal?


That bit of sarcasm should have been obvious even to you? :-)

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

How does under staffing motivate (expensive) old hands to retire?


It induces lots of overtime.



Are they less able to cope with the stress of long hours and high
traffic rates?


More able.



Or does their experience permit them to deal with the stresses with
perspicacity?


Gesundheit.



That is not so obvious?


It should have been.

Jim Logajan wrote:

Also overlooked is the cost of training. There is a large up-front cost to
add an additional controller that doesn't exist if you merely extend the
hours of already trained controllers - even if those extra hours are more
costly.


Not mention some folks LIKE overtime, and are perfectly capable of
working a reasonable number of extra hours in a perfectly safe manner.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...

I'll bet is cheaper to pay two guys for 60 hours each than 3 for 40.

Let's see, 3 guys at 40 hours each is 120 hours of straight time. Two guys
at 60 hours each is 80 hours of straight time and forty
hours of time-and-a- half.

How much would you like to bet?

OK you're a controller. How much is you benefit package cost the FAA each
month? What about your retirement package? How much would the training for
added employee cost?