More than 200 air traffic controllers at a facility in the Jacksonville area are working knowing they’ll soon miss their second paycheck.
“Often we have to make split second decisions that literally mean the difference between life and death,” Paul Behan said.
STORY: Government shutdown impacts Jacksonville area air traffic control, passenger safety
Behan is among the 225 air traffic control specialists at the air traffic control center in Hilliard.
He says every day, they make sure up to 9,000 planes get to their destinations safely.
They manage 161,000 square miles of airspace in the southeast region. One controller could have between five and 15 airplanes on their radar scope at one time.
“This job requires 100 percent focus at all times. Having the added stress of not knowing when your next paycheck is coming, having to choose which bills you’re going to pay those are introducing risk into the system,” he said.
STORY: Jacksonville TSA workers furloughed during government shutdown given meals
TSA workers are also among Jacksonville families working without pay.
Local group Feeding Northeast Florida provided meals for 150 furloughed workers at Jacksonville International Airport Wednesday.
RIGHT NOW: A #Jacksonville organization is providing meals to 150 workers at Jacksonville International Airport affected by the government shutdown. They’re among hundreds of families in our area who haven’t been paid in weeks @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/iuhE6mTgkE
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) January 23, 2019
In an internal TSA email obtained by CNN, the administration reportedly made a plea for 250 employees to move from their home airports to those seeing low staffing.
“It’s a stressful situation. It’s one thing if you know, I’m going to miss one paycheck or I’m going to miss two paychecks. There’s no end in sight,” Behan said.
Behan says the lapse in pay at the air traffic control office has affected morale in a job where there’s no room for error.
“Any lapse in judgement or focus can cause a catastrophe,” he said. "There's a huge safety issue going on here."
Action News Jax contacted the FAA with Behan's safety concerns.
A spokesperson said travelers can be assured the airspace is safe.
Full statement from the FAA:
"Overall, the traveling public can be assured that our nation's airspace system is safe. Air traffic controllers and the technicians who maintain the nation's airspace system continue to work without pay as they fill a critical mission to ensure the public's safety. We sincerely thank FAA employees--especially the dedication and professionalism of our air traffic controllers, technicians and inspectors --who are working to keep the traveling public and our skies safe. We have seen no unusual increased absenteeism and there are no operational disruptions due to staffing. Also, we have seen no measurable increase in unplanned air traffic controller retirements or resignations."
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