Gillen Meets With Local Air Traffic Controllers During DC Fly-In
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04), a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, met with New York members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to discuss the urgent need to expand and sustain the air traffic controller workforce and modernize aviation technology to improve safety and reliability throughout Long Island’s airspace.
“It is critical to our national security that we are investing in recruiting and retaining our air traffic controllers to keep Americans safe in our skies,” said Rep. Gillen. “Our air traffic control towers are understaffed, our technology is outdated, and long hours and compulsory overtime are contributing to widespread burnout and fatigue. We must continue to partner with NATCA to address our current staffing challenges, support our dedicated air traffic controllers, and modernize our air traffic control system.”
During the meeting, Congresswoman Gillen and NATCA representatives addressed the staffing challenges faced by regional air traffic control facilities, explored strategies to increase retention efforts, and emphasized the importance of investing in modernized aviation technology.
Both NATCA and Rep. Gillen emphasized that N90 legacy air traffic systems are overdue for modernized technology investments to ensure the safety and efficiency of Long Island's airspace.