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Orlando's Controllers 'Green'

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The Associated Press

Published: April 6, 2009

ORLANDO - Orlando International Airport may be one of the busiest airports in the country, but federal officials say too many of its air traffic controllers have too little experience.

U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel cited Orlando as having the nation's highest percentage of controllers in training to become certified when he testified before Congress. Orlando has the 11th-largest passenger volume in the United States.

Forty-seven percent of air traffic controllers at the Orlando airport lack certification - about double the percentage of uncertified controllers nationwide.

Across the country, rookies are replacing retiring controllers who started work as replacements during the 1981 controllers strike.

Critics say new hires are also trained faster and have less expertise when they start work. Some come from jobs as waiters and bank tellers.

In the past, controllers had to become proficient at six work stations in the control tower plus 15 other stations in a separate radar room to become fully certified. In January, the FAA split the work force so controllers become certified in either the control tower or the radar facility, but not both. The change will cut training time from three years to one.

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