Air Traffic Control News

CBS News • Aimee Picchi

Government shutdown strains FAA air-traffic control, delays thousands of U.S. flights

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown is straining FAA air-traffic controller staffing and slowing thousands of flights across major U.S. airports, the agency warned. Controllers working with deferred pay and rising "sick calls" have produced operational gaps and localized disruptions, including problems in the Los Angeles area.

2025-10-07T11:25:32.795115-07:00

Skift

Delta CEO says operations unaffected as U.S. government shutdown drives nationwide flight delays

2025-10-09T09:57:16.371998-07:00

Reuters

Multiple drone sightings force overnight closure of Munich Airport; dozens of flights grounded and ~3,000 passengers stranded

2025-10-02T18:13:55.693135-07:00

The Hill

Hollywood Burbank control tower unmanned for six hours during U.S. government shutdown, triggering delays and safety concerns

2025-10-06T20:01:54.717560-07:00

Air Traffic Control News Timeline

Reuters

EU push for anti‑Russia 'drone wall' stalls amid political and technical hurdles After roughly 20 suspected Russian drones breached Polish airspace last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged construction of a 'drone wall' to protect the EU's eastern flank. But efforts to build the network are running into political disagreements between member states and unresolved technical challenges.

2025-10-15T00:24:33.803816-07:00

EU push for anti‑Russia 'drone wall' stalls amid political and technical hurdles

Reuters

❗️

Senate Commerce Committee to vote Oct. 21 on aviation safety bill after deadly Reagan National crash The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will vote Oct. 21 on aviation safety legislation prompted by the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people, renewing congressional momentum for changes to airspace oversight and rotorcraft rules.

2025-10-14T13:08:46.394751-07:00

Senate Commerce Committee to vote Oct. 21 on aviation safety bill after deadly Reagan National crash

Associated Press

NATO ministers push for urgent weapons and ammunition pledges for Ukraine as allied airspace tensions rise NATO defense ministers will meet to drum up urgent weapons and ammunition pledges for Ukraine after deliveries have sharply declined in recent months. Ministers will also confront a wave of Russian airspace violations and renewed strikes, weighing stepped-up air-defence deployments and rules-of-engagement options.

2025-10-14T10:36:59.048099-07:00

NATO ministers push for urgent weapons and ammunition pledges for Ukraine as allied airspace tensions rise

Reuters

❗️

Judge sets April 2027 civil trial over Reagan National midair collision that killed 67 A federal judge has scheduled an April 2027 trial for lawsuits arising from the Jan. 29 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk. The accident killed 67 and prompted extensive NTSB scrutiny and public hearings.

2025-10-14T10:36:44.644089-07:00

Judge sets April 2027 civil trial over Reagan National midair collision that killed 67

Space.com

Train of four CMEs due Oct 15–17 — risks to geomagnetic environment, GNSS and satellite operations A train of four coronal mass ejections is forecast to hit Earth's magnetic field across Oct. 15–17, raising the likelihood of geomagnetic storms that could degrade GNSS accuracy, disrupt satellite operations and increase HF-communication and charging risks. Northern lights may be visible across northern North America.

2025-10-14T09:23:39.482746-07:00

Train of four CMEs due Oct 15–17 — risks to geomagnetic environment, GNSS and satellite operations

EASA

❗️

EASA urges continuous use of stop-bar lights in SIB 2025-07 to curb rising runway incursions EASA published Safety Information Bulletin SIB 2025-07 urging EU aerodromes that already have stop-bar systems to use them continuously, citing an increase in runway incursions both in absolute terms and relative to flight volumes and recommending optimal use of stop-bars to bolster runway safety.

2025-10-14T06:40:30.505142-07:00

EASA urges continuous use of stop-bar lights in SIB 2025-07 to curb rising runway incursions

Flying Magazine

❗️

Shutdown jeopardizes pilot training, ATC services and FAA certifications A U.S. government shutdown could interrupt pilot training check rides, air‑traffic control services and FAA certification processes as lapses in funding force staffing changes at the agency. The pause risks freezing hiring, delaying exams and slowing credential renewals, producing near‑term operational bottlenecks.

2025-10-14T05:01:36.656768-07:00

Shutdown jeopardizes pilot training, ATC services and FAA certifications

Reuters

❗️

European airline CEOs warn of 'existential crisis', urge urgent EU ATC overhaul and stronger SAF support Europe’s leading airline chiefs have warned EU policymakers the continent’s aviation sector faces an 'existential crisis' unless Brussels delivers an immediate air‑traffic management overhaul and stronger sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) support. Executives also demanded prioritising e‑fuels for aviation and decried high SAF costs and fragmented rules.

2025-10-14T03:04:40.791837-07:00

European airline CEOs warn of 'existential crisis', urge urgent EU ATC overhaul and stronger SAF support

Create a free account to see more recent Air Traffic Control stories.