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New report finds jump in air traffic errors

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    Former NTSB managing director weighs in

  • Duration 4:19
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Just in the Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano today is warning of longer lines at the nation's airports especially in custom.

As sequestration goes into effect over the next weeks and months.

Average wait times to clear customs.

Can't increased by a significant percentage.

Up to 50%.

At our busiest airports.

Like Newark and JFK LAX and -- -- -- wait times -- and now even now it's too long peak wait times at some of these airports -- approach two hours.

Could actually grow to almost four hours we're trying to mitigate that as much as we can't.

This says we're also getting reports of trouble in the -- the Washington Post reports a new government audit.

Fines and alarming jump in the number of air traffic errors.

And -- the facility that supervises air traffic into Washington DC area airports a whopping 95%.

Increase in controller errors.

Word of this comes as the sequester budget cuts mean fewer air traffic controllers on the job.

Let's talk about your goals former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board -- Peter -- Some say that this nine 5%.

Increase in the number of errors reported by air traffic controllers.

Is simply because the agency has taken up.

A new method of reporting its its asking.

Four -- for controllers to report their own errors rather than punishing them if they make a mistake what do you think.

Well the IG heard that explanation any tested it and he found that it wasn't completely true.

He went back and looked at the alarming increase that started in 2009.

And found that indeed.

There were a lot more.

-- lack of separation events and its many of them.

Pretty serious so what's the explanation for that increased then -- it's not just because of increased reporting.

While they're looking at the part of it is.

For instance he identified that there are different approach -- -- will put in place at a number of the major.

Airports that.

The controllers and the pilots were not completely -- -- -- In other cases there were.

Challenges with the new reporting systems.

But let's let's be clear any given time we've got 7000.

Plus aircraft in the air we've got -- aircraft flying.

There are challenges and we haven't met -- yet.

-- I'm obviously a big proponent of of flying an air travel it is the safest way to go but.

What what do you say to to passengers I mean.

Does this sudden increase in in reported errors mean that flying has suddenly gotten more dangerous.

I don't think it's got more dangerous but it certainly.

Is a wake up call to the air traffic control system.

That.

We need to pay attention to this you know the next generation of air traffic control is still years away.

We're going to be flying under the current system.

For the next five years at least and people need to pay attention.

And you know hopefully.

The FAA is going to be able to manage sequestration.

Without cutting back on the key.

Elements that keep our -- our system safe.

Now speaking of that we heard the Homeland Security secretary -- Paul -- seeing lines are going to be horrible as a result of sequestration particularly when it comes to.

Customs flights.

Any of that affect the safety side of this.

I'm not sure that does but here's where I'm concerned you know you've got cutbacks in tower staffing and in some cases that fairly large airports.

You've got proposals that would close the -- during evening hours during the night.

That's when the cargo planes are flying in and out of many of these airports.

And you really don't don't -- have cut -- and in control is one you've got heavy traffic.

From even cargo carriers -- -- -- so I grew up twice I'd look twice that it.

Peter goals from the -- formerly with the National Transportation Safety Board Peter thank you.

Think you can.

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