On August 3, 1981, over 12,000 Professional Air Traffic Control Specialist were fired for conducting an illegal strike. Regardless of your feelings over those individuals, August 3 is quite significant; 8/3/2006 marks the passage of the 25th anniversary of the PATCO strike. For those controllers that stayed and new controllers that replaced them; 25 years of active air traffic control service means their retirement time is NOW!
Every day the calendar progresses more Controllers are eligible for RETIREMENT and the FAA has known this since 1994. The Agency's "I have a plan" plan is rapidly approaching a critical stage in the history of Air Traffic Control and staffing levels continue to dwindle. What will they do....ohhh what will they do....?
With the FAA imposing their NEW working conditions on their employees....where do we go from here?
Fewer Controllers due to INCREASED Retirements... faster than the FAA can hire and train replacements!
