FAA offers hefty relocation bonuses

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is offering $100,000 incentive bonuses to attract veteran controllers to move to facilities in a handful of U.S. locales.

ABC News reported Thursday the FAA is seeking air traffic controllers for airports in Westbury, N.Y.; Aspen, Colo.; Nantucket, Mass.; and Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, among others.

Some say the FAA is offering higher relocation incentives in part because of the high cost of living in the areas in question, but others said the bonuses of differing amounts are due to critical staffing issues.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the controllers' union, insists the turnover means too many inexperienced employees will be directing air traffic.

"It's a sign of desperation that staffing is so bad at these facilities that the FAA has to offer such an outrageously high sum of money instead of negotiating a reasonable and logical solution to the mess it has created," said NATCO President Patrick Forrey.

The FAA says it has offered incentives since January for transfers to 25 air traffic control facilities.