How long will faa furlough last

Expenditure authority for AIP also expired in the summer of The expiration of these authorities resulted in immediate furloughs for most employees funded from these accounts. Certain AIP grants-in-aid funds for airport development and planning are now subject to provisions of the Reducing Flight Delays Act of It appears that the transfer of the designated AIP discretionary funds to air traffic operations reduces the amount made available to airports under 49 U.

This has implications for both the eventual spending of AIP discretionary funds and the calculation of the amount of AIP entitlement funding available for distribution. Unless Congress takes further action, the transferred funds will eventually lead to real reductions in AIP discretionary spending. Employees paid through FAA's operations account, including air traffic controllers, were not furloughed in Such reductions, referred to as sequestration, went into effect on March 1, , which was the extended deadline for a deficit reduction agreement established under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of ATRA; P.

To implement the sequester-related reductions, the Federal Aviation Administration FAA began to furlough personnel, including air traffic controllers, on April 21, The next day, the House agreed to H. FAA halted furlough actions even before the bill was signed by President Obama. This report provides a brief overview of FAA's implementation of the sequester in April , as it relates to air traffic control operations and staff furloughs.

It then considers the congressional response, including the potential impact of the funds transfers authorized under P. The portion of funding designated for staff salaries and benefits varies considerably by major FAA funding account. This is by far the largest FAA budget account. As operations, including both air traffic services and safety-related functions, require the most internal labor resources from FAA, these functions are most heavily impacted by agency-wide furlough actions see Table 1.

While the focus of legislative debate on P. Table 1. Pre-Sequester Estimate a. FAA's grants for airport improvements, which are subject to obligation limitations, are statutorily exempt from the sequester cuts. FAA interpreted the law as requiring it to reduce spending proportionately in all accounts other than airport grants.

In response, FAA implemented agency-wide furloughs of employees, including air traffic controllers, beginning April 21, FAA employees were told they would be required to take 11 furlough days through the remainder of FY FAA employs about 45, people in a variety of functions. Different FAA components implemented various approaches to designating furlough days.

FAA's Air Traffic Organization, which includes both air traffic controllers and the technicians and engineers who maintain the air traffic control system, implemented rolling furloughs among its 33, employees to minimize staffing impacts to flight operations.

Following negotiations with the union representing controllers, FAA agreed that all air traffic controllers nationwide would be required to take one unpaid furlough day in each two-week pay period, irrespective of the workload or potential impact of reduced staffing at a particular facility. FAA implemented various air traffic management initiatives to mitigate impacts of the reduced staffing due to furloughs, including increased aircraft spacing, which reduces the number of flights an airport can handle in a given period.

Airlines warned that prolonged furloughs and associated delays could impact revenues, but this could be offset somewhat by lower fuel prices. This would necessitate spending reductions in those programs, which could potentially include employee furloughs.

By Alwyn Scott. Reuters - The U. The problems faced by airlines and aerospace companies show the far-reaching impact of the shutdown, now in its eighth day. Some observers say this poses a growing risk to travelers by increasing the odds of a plane crash. While recalls this week by the FAA will allow aircraft made by Boeing to be certified, they will not enable jet buyers to perform a final step: registration. The office issues registration numbers for planes and pilots, much like registration for automobiles and drivers, the agency said.

She made it at 4 p. EDT but lost most of the work day because of the delay. Although shifting winds were first blamed for the delay, "the captain clearly said 'personnel issues' with air traffic control, which he's certain we've all heard about in the news, were surely playing a big part in the problem," wrote Peterson, via e-mail.

This kind of flight delay may be coming to an airport near you. Furloughs of all Federal Aviation Administration employees, including its 15, air traffic controllers, started Sunday, part of government-wide spending cuts that took effect last month. Furloughs lead to big delays at LaGuardia. Some 1, flight delays on Monday were attributable to staffing reductions resulting from furloughs, and 1, additional delays were because of the weather and other factors, according to the FAA.

More Videos What FAA towers closing means for safety The result is expected to reduce control-tower staffing at any time by 10 percent, a move that Nick Calio, CEO of Airlines for America A4A , said could result in as many as 6, flight delays per day.

But the nature of the air traffic system means any delays could quickly spread across the country due to ground stops, in which planes are kept on the ground at originating airports because there are no gates at their destinations.

If those delays take effect, it will not be very long before the system comes to a grinding halt. In the meantime, airports are ramping up contingency plans to accommodate passengers facing potential delays, says Chris Oswald, vice president, safety and regulatory affairs for Airports Council International — North America ACI-NA , an airport industry trade group.