CHICAGO, July 6 (UPI) -- The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says shortages of controllers at three Chicago-area air traffic centers could endanger the public.
Controllers who guide planes from the tower at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control facility and the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center plan to discuss staffing shortages during a Wednesday news conference.
Union officials say the Federal Aviation Administration projects a nationwide controller shortage in the next 10 years as older controllers retire. It takes about five years to train a new controller to become expert at handling planes in the Chicago region's airspace.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., has asked the Senate Appropriations Committee to boost funding for the FAA by $14 million to begin the controller hiring process because of potential travel and safety concerns.
