air traffic control

Staffing triggers are episodes of delays at air traffic control facilities that are caused by low staffing levels.

Federal government shutdowns can cause furloughs or unpaid status for federal employees, disrupt public services such as air travel (which can lead to flight cancellations), and increase affected employees' reliance on food banks.

Staffing shortages in air traffic control can lead to reductions in flight operations at major airports.

Air traffic control procedures can include slowing or stopping flights from taking off toward an airport when weather conditions are hazardous or when there are insufficient air traffic controllers or supporting facilities to safely handle traffic.

Staffing shortages in air traffic control can occur both in regional control centers that manage multiple airports and in individual airport towers, and such shortages do not always lead to flight disruptions.

Staffing shortages in air traffic control can produce isolated flight delays at airports, while aggregate national delay levels can nevertheless remain within the range of normal variation.

Air traffic management can deliberately reduce the number of flights handled in a period to prioritize passenger safety over maximizing throughput.

Air traffic controller staffing shortages can cause widespread flight delays and operational disruptions at major airports.

Federal government shutdowns can result in unpaid federal workers and reduced staffing levels for essential services, including air traffic control.

Flight delays can increase when adverse weather coincides with air traffic control staffing shortages, producing compounded disruptions to air travel.

Federal government shutdowns can cause federal employees to be furloughed and can interrupt pay for federal workers and service members when appropriations lapse.

If staffing levels at an air traffic control tower, TRACON, or center are insufficient, air traffic control agencies may delay or cancel flights to maintain safety.

Air traffic control is a safety-sensitive occupation in which controllers operate with a minimal margin for error.

Federal employees whose pay depends on annual appropriations may not receive paychecks during a government shutdown, which can create financial hardship and increase absenteeism or staffing shortages in essential services such as air traffic control and the Transportation Security Administration.

Government shutdowns can cause federal employees to miss paychecks and can disrupt federally funded services such as air traffic control operations and food assistance programs.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a go-around is a procedure in which a pilot discontinues a landing approach at the direction of air traffic control and returns to altitude.

Air traffic control can instruct an arriving aircraft to execute a go-around to maintain safe separation from other aircraft, including aircraft that are taking off from intersecting runways.

Cargo (shipping) flights and commercial passenger flights compete for runway access and air traffic control resources at airports, and the intensity of that competition varies by airport.

Air traffic controllers can instruct departing aircraft to change their flight paths to avoid potential conflicts with other aircraft.

In controlled airspace, pilots generally require approval from air traffic control before making non-standard maneuvers after takeoff, such as an immediate turn away from the assigned departure heading.