The Metro: As aviation hits rough air, a veteran questions whether government math still flies
Airports are cutting flights amid a worsening controller shortage. But former air traffic controller Todd Yeary says the numbers and narrative don’t fully reflect what’s happening inside America’s control rooms.
Across the U.S., flight cancellations have surged and delays are stretching into long waits. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered major airports, including Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, to cut departures by up to 10% because there are not enough certified controllers to manage full schedules safely.
This didn’t start overnight. The nation’s controller workforce has been shrinking for years as a result of retirements outpacing new hires, a long training pipeline, and waves of budget uncertainty.
The recent federal government shutdown has made everything worse: hiring is frozen, classes have stopped, and experienced controllers are leaving fast, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. He said the nation is now losing 15 to 20 controllers every day.
Former air traffic controller Todd Yeary is skeptical of those numbers, and some of the other aviation data he is hearing from the Trump administration. He joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to explain.
Use the media player above to hear the conversation.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.Donate today »
More stories from The Metro
