FAA to Form Panel Investigating Air Traffic Controller Exhaustion

Move follows series of near-collisions and ongoing nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to announce the formation of a panel to investigate the risks posed by exhaustion among air traffic controllers.
The move comes after a series of near-collisions this year, with many controllers working round-the-clock schedules due to a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.
The FAA is currently short of more than 3,000 controllers, with many facilities operating at only 81% of the required staffing levels.
Reports suggest that the shortage has led to an increase in significant air traffic control lapses, with 503 instances recorded in the fiscal year ending September 30, a 65% increase from the previous year.
Lawmakers and industry representatives have called on the FAA to address the staffing crisis, warning that failure to do so could have catastrophic consequences.