Overview

• NATCA says controllers receive their first partial paycheck today, with Oct. 28 projected as the first fully missed payday if the shutdown persists.
• The system is 3,800 controllers below FAA staffing targets, with about 10,800 certified controllers handling roughly 45,000 daily flights.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously reported roughly 10% of controllers calling in sick, and facilities have used flow controls as delays hit airports such as Burbank and Nashville.
• FlightAware logged about 1,280 U.S. delays Tuesday morning as unions and experts warn that fatigue and financial stress reduce margins even as the system remains safe.
• The hiring and training pipeline faces new disruptions, with intake paused and NATCA warning only about 17 days of funding for ongoing training, while travel losses are estimated near $1 billion per week and passengers remain entitled to refunds for canceled flights.