Link to tweet

Denver International Airport has asked the FAA whether airport revenue could be used to pay air traffic controllers during the shutdown.

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Most are probably too strapped already to do such things, and they aren't allowed to borrow to cover a shortfall. Airports have their own budgets, and in this case they still have to get federal permission to make the payments.

as this has become a feature of this admin.

Either someone lends the controllers their salaries, or start paying them in addition to what the federal government pays them, so that people start wanting to take those jobs.

The long time problem is that pay is not high enough for the stress and responsibility. Ever since Reagan screwed them all.

So, come up with a solution, it has only been brewing for 45 years now.

I am so sick of people passing the problems along. This is not that much money- how many controllers work at each airport? How about putting tip jars at the gates - let passengers pay them tips. I bet that would generate some funds.

The reason the dems keep losing is that they keep playing by the rules, when the rules are all tossed out by these ruthless bastards and we take them to court. And they ignore the orders.

And then the Supreme Court says it is ok for the R’s to break all the rules, just not anyone with a D in front of them.

So just do things for the moment- pay them all for goodness sake, out of any fund available, and then work it out later.

Thanks for responding to my post Ocellot II, I am just venting my frustration.

and tip jars at airports isn't going to do it. Air traffic controllers are actually paid very well, and it isn't a job anyone would take if they didn't really like it and take it very seriously (I've known several ATC and they love their work). But the only way the air traffic control system can work is by keeping it federally-regulated and managed so it's consistent throughout the country. There are private air traffic control services at some smaller airports, and in those cases a private company employs the controllers under a contract with the FAA, which pays them through the private company, while the airport authority pays for the tower and associated equipment. The controllers are trained and regulated by the same FAA rules as FAA controllers. It applies only to towers (local control) and not to TRACON or en-route facilities. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/mission_support/faa_contract_tower_program

And it is time to come up with better ways to deal with shutdowns, since they are perennial now. And or come up with a system that allows for multiple payment streams. Licensing can still be a federal system, but payment of the personnel could become more flexible. And certainly it needs to be higher, or they would not have such a shortage of staff. And a shortage of people to train.

and gutted PATCO, the previous union. Any changes in the way ATC are paid and hired would have to be approved and managed by NATCA before anything else is done.

Terrible precedent for airports, airlines to pay, even temporarily.

If you're going to go down that route, why should people who don't fly subsidize the ATC system with their tax dollars? Why not revert to a Reagan-era idea - user fees - to pay their salaries? I'm sure passengers won't mind coughing up another $20 a flight, amiright?

No problem with me, just fix it so that the whole nation is not held hostage by these crazed R’s.

How about tip jars at the gates, and tip jars for the TSA agents, see how that works out.

which can't move without the controllers?
Seems stupid and counterproductive to be paid by the government.