Larry and I don't fly for the most part. Last time in the air we traveled to Texas for a granddaughter's wedding. We'd making that trip by car, but were just too tired and decided it was fly or miss the event. It was beautiful and we were glad we went. That darling granddaughter is now expecting a little girl, her second baby after a sweet little boy, two of our precious grandchildren.
For many, flying isn't just an occasional necessity, it's essential to their business. And for most, flying is necessary at least occasionally to attend funerals of loved ones, to visit critically ill family members, to attend the festive occasions of children and grandchildren, etc. They depend on safe and reliable air transportation. They want air traffic controllers (atc's) who are rested and sharp, not distracted wondering how they will manage with no paycheck. A bagging mistake at the grocery is no big deal; a mistake managing two planes in the air can be catastrophic!
With the Schumer shutdown, safety and reliability in air travel are at risk. How many flights have been delayed or cancelled because of the shutdown? Thousands! Flight aware's misery map shows the airports most impacted by the shutdown. The map shows only four hours from 8:00 a.m. to noon with hundreds of mostly delayed flights with thirteen cancellations. Many of the hub airports are especially hard hit. MSN reported this alarming information on the ninth day of the shutdown. Things have continued to deteriorate since then. Chicago's O'Hare actually had to shut down:
Newsweek contacted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) via email for comment. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson told Newsweek: “As Secretary Duffy said, there have been increased staffing shortages across the system. When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.”
Why It Matters
During a press conference at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Monday, Duffy said that while air traffic controllers are expected to continue working during a shutdown without immediate pay, they are confronted with a high level of financial uncertainty.
Controllers have reportedly told Duffy they may have to get second jobs to cover costs until they are able to be paid again, Duffy said on Monday, meaning many will be highly stressed and exhausted, potentially increasing the likelihood of issues arising at airports.
More workers are also calling in sick, reducing the number of air control staff at airports, Duffy said. Staffing has reportedly been reduced already by 50 percent in some areas since the shutdown started.
The article also reported that "The FAA warned on Tuesday (October 7) that O’Hare would not have enough controllers and that the facility would have to close as a result." Seriously! Have you ever flown into Chicago's O'Hare? It's the hub for many U.S. flights.
The situation has continued to deteriorate since then. It's time for Congress to pass a bill including pay suspension for all members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown. These folks don't mind inflicting pain on the American people. They should share in it, although for most of them it wouldn't hurt a bit. But it's high time they stopped getting a free ride from the taxpayers while they tell us all "No bread? Let them eat cake."
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