FAA, airlines work to improve gridlock in skies over Florida
Over 38 million people each year visit the Sunshine State via air
Florida sees tremendous uptick in flight disruptions and delays
Pilot and aerospace expert Kathleen Bangs on the push for more air traffic controllers by the FAA in an effort to tame flight disruptions.
MIAMI – The Federal Aviation Administration is promising to make the skies friendlier over the Sunshine State after delays dogged airlines for months, causing upset passengers and missed connections.
The agency recently said it had a productive meeting with around a dozen airlines that identified areas where officials could improve performance and attempt to ease congestion in the airspace.
The FAA believes the combination of weather, an increase in space launches and other constraints has been a perfect storm that has impacted the performances of airlines.
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In order to keep aircraft moving, officials are planning to make adjustments in operations to try to avoid significant delays during the busy summer travel season.
The FAA said it will start sharing information more frequently on rocket launches and other events that cause airspace restrictions.
Air traffic controllers across the state will also be given clearance to use alternate routes when main air arteries are interrupted.
Map of FAA control centers
(FAA)
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The administration said it is also planning to increase staff at the major control facility in Jacksonville, Florida, which is responsible for covering a large amount of the airspace over the Southeast.
According to state tourism data, more than 38 million people visited the state via plane in 2021, and airlines expect the number of passengers to soar past 2019 levels in the coming weeks.