FAA Changes Air Traffic Staffing Schedule Amid Coronavirus Written 31 March 2020

Reuters reports that the Federal Aviation Administration “is rejiggering staffing at air traffic control centers to respond to the dramatic falloff in flights and to reduce the impact of coronavirus cases.” An FAA “flexible schedule agreement seen by Reuters said all air traffic facilities would divide personnel ‘into the maximum number of crews possible, with each crew being greater than or equal to the identified daily minimum staffing number.’” US airlines “are parking hundreds of airplanes and canceling tens of thousands of flights as a growing number of states issue stay-at-home orders and government agencies urge people to avoid non-essential travel.” The FAA said that “some airports have already begun parking on runways,” and therefore, “it is imperative that operators and flightcrew minimize the risk.” Carriers “are looking for room in part because the FAA noted that some carriers were parking up to 50% of their fleets.”
Full Story (Reuters)