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Fly NextGen: Thinking about safety, what are your top priorities and concerns?
Jerry Costello: We have a terrible problem with the air traffic controllers. One, there is a morale problem. Number two, we’re losing the most experienced controllers that we have. Recently, I was in a tower at an U.S. airport that is extremely busy, and of the dozen or so controllers that were on duty, the most experienced controller was on the job 18 months, and many of them were there less than a year. So there’s a horrible morale problem, everybody recognizes it but the FAA. The GAO recognizes it, and everyone else does as well — the users of the system and the stakeholders. So I’m hoping that with the new administration, we will see a different attitude and a willingness to sit down and try and work out some of the problems between the union and the FAA. I believe that there will be a willingness to try and address some of those issues so that we can reverse what has gone on, improve morale, and maybe retain some of these experienced controllers that we’re losing.
Separately, we have held a number of hearings on runway incursions. Those are some of the things that we need to address as well, and I think that we have made some improvements. I think Hank Krakowski with the ATO organization within the FAA has begun to hold meetings with airlines to try and bring about some improvements. There are some technology improvements we can do as well, but the immediate thing that needs to be addressed as soon as the new administration gets in place is we need to address the issue of morale and the issue of losing these experienced controllers.
Fly NextGen: Let’s talk about infrastructure for a moment. Coming out of the full committee hearing in late October, do you see airports and aviation benefiting from investments that are likely to be made in the context of a stimulus package?
Jerry Costello: I do. There are many needs around the country at some of our busiest airports — hubs and other airports. There are projects that are ready to go, as far as runway and taxiway improvements and other issues addressing congestion and safety. And I believe that airport improvements should be part of any stimulus package that has a component for improving our infrastructure.
Fly NextGen: You’ve said you won’t pursue an appointment to head DOT. Is that still correct?
Jerry Costello: I had not been pursuing that. I love what I’m doing. I consider it an honor to have my name mentioned as a possible candidate, but it is not something that I am pursuing.
Fly NextGen: Who are some people whom you’d like to see considered?
Jerry Costello: I think that Chairman Oberstar would be an excellent candidate for that position. There’s no one more knowledgeable about transportation issues than Jim Oberstar. But I’m certain that the President-Elect will have a number of qualified candidates to choose from.
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