Representative Hultgren today called on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to call a hearing concerning FAAs hiring practices.
Hultgren Calls for Transportation Committee Hearing on Nonsensical FAA Hiring Procedures
FAA Skirts Questions about Air Safety under New, Flawed ProcessWashington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today called upon Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to hold a hearing on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) recent decision to suddenly alter its process for hiring air traffic controllers. These new hiring practices have caused the FAA to pass over the most qualified air traffic controller candidates, such as experienced veterans, and have raised concerns of air travel safety. In light of a lack of transparency at the FAA’s actions, and out of concern for airline passenger safety, Congressman Hultgren has introduced the SAFE TOWERS Act. Learn more about the FAA’s recent hiring changes and the SAFE TOWERS Act here.
In his letter to Chairman Shuster, Congressman Hultgren wrote that he believes the American public should have answers and details relating to, among other concerns, the incorporation of a Biographical Questionnaire (BQ), used in the new application process, which:
- Disqualifies qualified candidates with specialized degrees and military air traffic control experience because of arbitrary multiple choice test questions and responses the FAA deemed ‘wrong.’
- Does not require applicants to show IDs on-site, or sit in a secured testing site, raising questions of confidence in the fairness of the application process.
- Does not allow numerous applicants who have ‘failed’ the BQ to reapply for future air traffic controller positions. Applicants did not receive their score, were not informed what score was needed to pass, were not given the metrics used for scoring the BQ, and were thus left in the dark as to how to prepare themselves to reapply for future openings.
Furthermore, an October 2014 report released by the FAA found that the use of BQ data did not adequately contribute to the prediction of air traffic controller success—so why were applicants disqualified under a flawed metric?
Unfortunately, correspondence from the FAA has been thin on details about the FAA’s plans for revising the hiring process moving forward, and how the process purports to enhance aviation safety.
“The agency’s lack of transparency continues to erode my confidence that it places the safety of our skies as a top priority,” said Congressman Hultgren. “The American people need assurance that conditions and processes in place at the FAA remain safe and security-focused.”
http://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-calls-for-transportation-committee-hearing-on-nonsensical-faa
Hultgren to FAA Administrator: Address Control Tower Safety Now
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) called on FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, who today plans to visit the crippled FAA facility in Aurora, Illinois, to address his agency’s new hiring procedures for air traffic controllers which puts the safety of American airline passengers at risk. Along with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, he has refused to give any answers to inquiries from Rep. Hultgren, the Illinois delegation or other Members of Congress about the new, obscure and illogical hiring practices.
“I am glad Administrator Huerta and the FAA are taking the incident at the FAA facility in Aurora seriously. But I am disappointed he and Secretary Foxx have ignored repeated requests from me and other Members of Congress for answers about the FAA’s new hiring procedures,” said Rep. Hultgren. “I believe the new procedures jeopardize airline safety and risk putting lesser qualified candidates into our towers. Many qualified applicants have been rejected from the process by an illogical personality test which asked such irrelevant questions as whether you played a high school sport. Just because someone was a star athlete in high school doesn’t mean they have the skills or training for us to trust them in our towers.
“I would hope that with the introduction of my legislation, the SAFE TOWERS Act, Administrator Huerta would respond to this troubling situation and take action as he is in Aurora. I will be pressing leadership in the House of Representatives to bring my bill up for a vote before the end of the year. We must all work together to ensure we have the best, brightest and most qualified air traffic controllers in our towers.”
The SAFE TOWERS (Standards Addressing Federal Transparency and Oversight With Evolving Recruitment Specifications) Act, H.R. 5675, reverses the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new hiring practices which have passed over the most qualified air traffic controller candidates and raised concerns of safety and transparency because they divert the time-tested hiring process around highly-qualified, CTI-certified trainees and qualified veterans maintaining aviation experience.
Learn more about the SAFE TOWERS Act here.
http://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-to-faa-administrator-address-control-tower-safety-now
Hultgren, Lipinski Introduce SAFE TOWERS Act to Fix FAA’s Illogical Hiring Procedure for Air Traffic Controllers
Allows Most Qualified Candidates to Re-Apply in Restored Common Sense Hiring Process
Washington, DC – U.S. Representatives Randy Hultgren (IL-14) and Dan Lipinski (IL-03) today introduced the Standards Addressing Federal Transparency and Oversight With Evolving Recruitment Specifications (SAFE TOWERS) Act. The bill reverses the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new, obscure and illogical hiring practices which have passed over the most qualified air traffic controller candidates and raised concerns of safety and transparency.
“The SAFE TOWERS Act is targeted at making sure we have the best and brightest in our control towers. When you climb into an airliner, you trust the pilot, the crew and air traffic controllers will keep you safe,” said Rep. Hultgren. “The new hiring standards jeopardize air travel safety because they divert the hiring process around highly-qualified, CTI-certified trainees and elevate off-the-street candidates. I have met with air traffic controllers in my district, collegiate training initiative (CTI) students, teachers and administrators who were blindsided by the FAA’s decision after spending tens of thousands of dollars and hours in specialized training courses. The FAA has been non-responsive to my inquiries about how their new hiring practices make our skies safer. We still have more questions than answers.
“Psychological assessments are important, especially for high-stress jobs. But disqualifying highly-trained, certified graduates because they did or did not play sports in high school, as one Bio Q question asked, is ridiculous. The SAFE TOWERS Act ensures our towers are again operated by qualified veterans and graduates with specialized aviation degrees, and provides relief for those who ‘aged out’ of the process. Further, it makes sure the FAA is open and transparent about their hiring procedures.”
“Lewis University in Romeoville has one of the premier CTI programs in the nation,” said Rep Lipinski. “For years its graduates, along with our military controllers, have gone on to proudly work for the FAA. Now, with these hastily implemented hiring procedures, the FAA is turning its back on the students and brave veterans that should be the backbone of our air traffic control system, in favor of a process that lacks transparency. Safety must be the number one concern for the FAA and we shouldn’t be tinkering with this proven system.”
Currently, there are 272 air traffic controllers living in the 14th Congressional District. For decades, the FAA has relied on colleges and universities to prepare air traffic controllers through the CTI, ensuring candidates are well-trained for the position. This year the FAA changed its hiring practices with few details given about how the changes would be implemented and with little advance warning. There are strong signs that the new procedures have resulted in unjust economic injury to candidates who have been disqualified by the opaque Biographical Questionnaire (Bio Q). Further, many have “aged out” after turning 31 during the application process, thus becoming ineligible for the job for which they were specifically trained.
Previously, Rep. Hultgren led a bipartisan group of the Illinois delegation in pressing U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx for answers regarding the FAA’s new hiring procedures. The letter is available here.
Among other provisions, the SAFE TOWERS Act would:
- Restore preferred status for CTI graduates with school recommendations and qualified veterans back into the hiring process.
- Eliminate the use of a Biographical Assessment that unduly disqualifies applicants.
- Allow candidates who will have aged out from the interim hiring process, or were deemed unqualified by the Bio Q, the chance to reapply.
- Establish an ATC Advisory Committee, composed of relevant educational institutions and organizations, to provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator of the FAA in regards to needs, objectives, plans, and content of air traffic control training programs.
- Requires an annual report from the Advisory Committee to Congress citing recommendations. The FAA must respond within 60 days explaining why they did or did not comply.
- Requires the FAA to notify Advisory Committee and CTI schools prior to any future changes in the hiring process and allow the schools an opportunity to comment.
- Requires the FAA take into consideration locally developed training initiatives at CTI schools when establishing best practices nationwide.
http://hultgren.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hultgren-lipinski-introduce-safe-towers-act-to-fix-faa-s-illogical-hiring
Hultgren Letter to Secretary Foxx
Congressman Hultgren (R-IL) wrote a letter to DOT Secretary Foxx admonishing FAA’s changes to hiring practices.
29 Representatives’ Letter to FAA Administrator Huerta
29 Representatives sent a letter to FAA Administrator Huerta requesting FAA provide more information regarding the hiring process.
Casey, Toomey, Rothfus Urge FAA to Give Fair Consideration to Community College of Beaver County Air Traffic Control Candidates Following Policy Change, Senate
New FAA Policy Changes How Candidates Are Considered for Air Traffic Control Positions / Change Could Impact Highly Skilled Beaver County Students Who Participate in Specialized Program / Program At Community College of Beaver County Produces Highly Skilled Air Traffic Controllers that Contribute to Safety
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Congressman Keith Rothfus (R-PA) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that students in the Community College of Beaver County Air Traffic Control program receive fair consider as the FAA implements a new hiring policy. The policy changes could impact how candidates from the program are considered against other applicants who did not attend the Air Traffic Control program in Beaver County or at another community college in the nation. The Beaver County program has a track record of developing highly skilled air traffic controllers that contribute to airline safety.
“The Community College of Beaver County’s Air Traffic Control program has produced highly skilled workers and it’s important that the FAA continue to give these students fair consideration during the hiring process,” Senator Casey said. “Developing high quality air traffic controllers will increase airline safety. I’m urging the FAA to carefully implement this new policy so that graduates of this specialized training program can continue to compete for positions”
“The Community College of Beaver County has excelled in producing top notch air traffic controllers,” said Senator Toomey. “As a pilot, I am keenly aware of the role quality air traffic controllers play in promoting safety in air travel. With this in mind, I hope the FAA will be mindful of the important role educational institutions such as the Community College of Beaver County play in increasing air safety and allows qualified candidates to maintain their eligibility for open air traffic controller positions.”
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Administrator Huerta,
We are writing regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new policy for evaluating Air Traffic Control (ATC) candidates announced in December 2013. Thank you in advance for your consideration of our views.
It is our understanding that the policy change alters the manner in which the FAA considers a candidate’s past participation in an Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. We are advised that under the previous policy, AT-CTI students were considered separately from other applicants due, in part, to the specialized training students enrolled in AT-CTI programs receive. As the FAA moves forward with implementation of this policy change, we believe it is critical that the benefits associated with AT-CTI training be fully taken into account.
As you know, the AT-CTI program arose from a partnership between the FAA and colleges, universities, and trade schools and is designed to help prepare graduating students for ATC careers. Aspiring ATC specialists from around the country have enrolled in this program intending to develop the requisite skills and qualifications necessary for obtaining a position upon graduation. These students come from a variety of backgrounds and study at 36 diverse institutions nationwide and have made a commitment to ATC careers by dedicating time and resources to take part in AT-CTI.
As you evaluate the newly-implemented policy, we ask that you take into account the benefits of AT-CTI training and the work that is being done at places like the Community College of Beaver County, which is home to Pennsylvania’s only AT-CTI program. The Community College of Beaver County has developed a reputation for excellence and has a proven track record of developing highly skilled air traffic controllers. Given the historical partnership between the AT-CTI program and the FAA, and its importance to many Pennsylvanians, we respectfully request that you consider the intense and successful training programs that are going on in places like Beaver County as you implement this new policy.
We appreciate your time and attention to this matter, and we hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
Pat Toomey
United States Senator
Keith Rothfus
Member of Congress
Mikulski, Cardin Call on FAA to Honor Commitment to Baltimore Air Traffic Control Students, Congress
| PoliticalNews.me – Apr 19,2014 – Mikulski, Cardin Call on FAA to Honor Commitment to Baltimore Air Traffic Control Students
Recent changes to the FAA’s hiring requirements could disqualify highly-educated candidates that have heavily invested in careers with the FAA WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that they have called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to honor its commitment to active students and recent graduates of Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) preparing to be part of FAA’s Air Traffic Controller workforce. Recent changes made under the FAA’s A Plan For The Future could disqualify highly-trained recent graduates that have invested their time and money for future careers as Air Traffic Controllers with the FAA. Maryland’s Community College of Baltimore (CCBC) is home to one of thirty-six schools across the county that offers the CTI program, graduating more than 120 students a year. More than 42 percent of these graduates are female or minority students. “Students and recent graduates of the CCBC CTI program have expressed to us their concern that the new hiring process outlined in A Plan for the Future may prevent them from securing employment as an air traffic controller after they have invested thousands of dollars in tuition and countless hours into school and training,” the Senators wrote. “Their expectation upon entering the CTI program was that their hard work would result in being hired as an air traffic controller. We do not want these hard-working and qualified graduates to be bypassed and not given the due consideration they expected upon entering the CTI program.” In 2013, the FAA began a complete overhaul to its hiring process under the A Plan For The Future program in an effort to help diversify its current Air Traffic Controller Workforce. Under the new guidelines, the FAA will no longer favor graduates from the CTI program, but will instead heavily rely on a “Biographical Questionnaire” in its hiring process. These changes have raised concerns among current students and recent graduates of CTI programs who will no longer be given credit for having previously received intensive training to become Air Traffic Controllers. The letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta follows: April 14, 2014 Mr. Michael Huerta Dear Administrator Huerta: We are writing to express our support for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to diversify the Air Traffic Controller workforce so that it better reflects America. At the same time, we want to seek clarification on the impact these changes may have on current students and recent graduates of Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) programs. Maryland’s Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is home to one of the 36 CTI schools across the country. The CCBC CTI program graduates an average of 120 students per year and provides the FAA with a diverse pool of air traffic controller candidates, with the yearly average student population represented by 42 percent female or minority students. Students and recent graduates of the CCBC CTI program have expressed to us their concern that the new hiring process outlined in A Plan for the Future may prevent them from securing employment as an air traffic controller after they have invested thousands of dollars in tuition and countless hours into school and training. Their expectation upon entering the CTI program was that their hard work would result in being hired as an air traffic controller. We do not want these hard-working and qualified graduates to be bypassed and not given the due consideration they expected upon entering the CTI program. We heartily support your efforts to attract qualified minorities into the air traffic controller workforce and request that you help the student who are currently in the pipeline understand what changes have been made, how these changes will benefit the air traffic controller workforce, and how the changes will impact their applications. We also request that you give the current students and recent graduates, who entered the program before this hiring change took effect, greater consideration throughout the air traffic controller application process. Sincerely, Barbara Mikulski Ben Cardin http://politicalnews.me/?id=28053&pg=2&keys=FAA-STUDENT-AIR-TRAFFIC |
Air traffic students at Mt. SAC in Walnut tell congresswoman FAA diversity rules are unfair, SGV Tribune
Sen. Murray Challenges FAA’s “Biographical Test” for New Controllers, Reason Foundation
Air Traffic Control Newsletter #111
Robert Poole
March 19, 2014
Sen. Murray Challenges FAA’s “Biographical Test” for New Controllers
In a March 14th hearing of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Sen. Patty Murray (D, WA) asked probing questions of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx about the FAA’s new controller recruitment effort (about which I wrote last month). Sen. Murray noted the plight of more than 3,000 graduates of the FAA-sponsored Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program who have invested years and many thousands of dollars obtaining degrees in aviation and air traffic control. Under the new approach implemented last month, they no longer have first shot at controller training positions. Instead, they must compete with thousands of off-the-street applicants who are required to have no more than a high-school diploma or three years of any kind of work experience.
Even more troubling to her is the requirement that applicants pass a “biographical questionnaire” (BQ) in order to be considered for an opening in the training program. She noted that of the 28,000 people who applied, only 2,200 passed the BQ. Numerous knowledgeable CTI graduates failed the BQ, but cannot find out why. How can this be, she asked Sec. Foxx. The Secretary gave a pretty general reply, saying the agency had noticed that the group of people who apply for controller training “tend to be rather limited,” and that the aim of the new procedure is to try to recruit from a larger population. CTI graduates, he said, will have a leg up during the training—but of course that’s only possible if they have passed the BQ.
Sen. Murray was having none of this. She repeated her concern about highly qualified CTI applicants being turned away due to the BQ, and said that controllers union NATCA is also concerned about this. Nobody understands what the BQ is supposed to measure, or why people are failing. Foxx said that he will have FAA Administrator Michael Huerta respond directly to her on these matters. Just to be sure, the Senator repeated that she wants to find out:
- Why such a small fraction of applicants are passing the BQ;
- The current status of the CTI program; and,
- What this new process is adding to the caliber of the controller workforce. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OrfVpKMQ_c)
Since I wrote last month’s story on this major change in controller recruitment, I have learned that some senior people in the Air Traffic Organization had planned on making CTI the primary source of applicants, and were even considering exempting those CTI graduates who passed the traditional aptitude test from some or all of the training at the FAA Academy (which would save the FAA money). This approach was first suggested by the DOT Inspector General in 2005, and was urged on FAA by Congress in the 2012 reauthorization bill. But now FAA has done just the opposite. From everything I can tell, the new recruitment approach was thought up by the FAA Human Resources department, not the ATO, and therefore does not represent ATO thinking on the best way to ensure a highly qualified 21st century NextGen workforce.
http://reason.org/news/show/air-traffic-control-newsletter-111#e