Regulatory Alert: FAA Provides Update on COVID-19 ATC Mitigation Efforts
April 5, 2020
Today the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided industry with an update on its efforts to mitigate disruptions to air traffic operations that have arisen in the past several weeks because of employees testing positive for or being exposed to COVID-19. These actions include splitting staffing into different groups to limit employee exposure at the busiest facilities, reducing facility hours of operation based on traffic volume, temporarily closing facilities with significant reductions in traffic, preparing back-up facilities where operations can resume should an exposure occur, and pausing training and non-critical maintenance.
As AAAE has previously reported, several airports throughout the country have experienced significant operational disruptions because of controllers or technicians being exposed to the coronavirus. According to FAA's "COVID-19 Facility Map," over 30 FAA air traffic control (ATC) facilities have been affected by COVID-19. You can view the full list of facilities that have been impacted, including a status of their operations, here.
FAA's ATC Mitigation Initiatives. In today's update, FAA outlined the initiatives that have been implemented to mitigate the effects on air traffic operations related to COVID-19. These initiatives include the following:
Today the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided industry with an update on its efforts to mitigate disruptions to air traffic operations that have arisen in the past several weeks because of employees testing positive for or being exposed to COVID-19. These actions include splitting staffing into different groups to limit employee exposure at the busiest facilities, reducing facility hours of operation based on traffic volume, temporarily closing facilities with significant reductions in traffic, preparing back-up facilities where operations can resume should an exposure occur, and pausing training and non-critical maintenance.
As AAAE has previously reported, several airports throughout the country have experienced significant operational disruptions because of controllers or technicians being exposed to the coronavirus. According to FAA's "COVID-19 Facility Map," over 30 FAA air traffic control (ATC) facilities have been affected by COVID-19. You can view the full list of facilities that have been impacted, including a status of their operations, here.
FAA's ATC Mitigation Initiatives. In today's update, FAA outlined the initiatives that have been implemented to mitigate the effects on air traffic operations related to COVID-19. These initiatives include the following:
- Adjusting ATC Staff Scheduling at Busiest Airports (Focus 40). FAA is adjusting controller schedules based on decreased traffic levels in order to reduce potential employee exposure to the virus. The agency is splitting staffing into separate groups that will rotate through five-day workweeks. This ensures adequate staffing at all times and allows for a "sterile" team to be available in the event an exposure occurs.
- Reducing Facility Operational Hours. FAA indicated that they may limit ATC facility hours at non-Focus 40 airports based on local circumstances, including reduced traffic volume. The agency indicated that this is for the purpose of ensuring adequate staffing levels during busier periods and allowing similar "sterile" teams to be available in the event that an exposure occurs. FAA also indicated that they will work with airports to understand and mitigate any unintended consequences, including maintaining operation of airfield equipment.
- Temporarily Closing Certain ATC Facilities. FAA indicated that they may temporarily close an ATC facility at a non-Focus 40 airport and delegate those operations to an overlying control facility. FAA emphasized that this would occur only where traffic has significantly reduced beyond the need for ATC operations. They believe that this would reduce unnecessary exposure risks for employees and allow for the reprioritization of supplies to facilities with a greater impact to the overall national airspace.
- Preparing Back-Up Facilities. FAA and air traffic managers have located and prepared back-up facilities where possible, including creating segmented workspaces to ensure a back-up sterile environment exists or identifying alternative facilities, such as ramp towers, where ATC operations can continue to function without interruption.
- Pausing Certain Training and Maintenance. To reduce COVID-19 exposure risks, FAA has paused on-the-job training and non-critical maintenance at ATC facilities. The agency is developing policies and procedures to address any training backlogs that develop.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Justin Barkowski at justin.barkowski@aaae.org.
