ATC
DOT Report : FAA Controller Operational Errors Increasing

Controller operational errors are on the rise, according to a February 27 audit report from the DOT’s Office of the Inspector General (IG), prompted by requests from the Senate subcommittee on aviation operations, safety and security and, separately, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. According to FAA data, controller operational errors at the Southern California (SoCal) Tracon, jumped from 33 in FY09 to 189 in FY10, an increase of 473 percent. Two other Tracons, at Central Florida and Houston, showed operational errors increasing by 380 percent (from 5 to 24) and 30 percent (from 11 to 44) respectively, while errors at the Miami ARTCC increased by 100 percent (from 15 to 30). Six other locations, at three Tracons, two ARTCCs and one control tower, reported increases in individual errors between 43 percent and 70 percent.