Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he might close airspace if the government shutdown continues for more than another week. He did not provide details on which airspace might be affected or what the rationale for such closures might be, but he did say “mass chaos” is on the way without a deal. “If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it,” Duffy said at a press conference. “We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s unsafe.”
Of course, closing even one section of busy airspace would ripple through the system and almost certainly cause the “mass cancellations” he fears. According to FlightAware, the number of cancellations and delays was down significantly on Tuesday from previous days. There were a total of about 4,000 delays and about 150 cancellations nationwide. Reuters is reporting that airlines are saying the shutdown hasn’t really affected their business although they are warning that bookings might falter if it goes on much longer.
On repeat, but apparently still valid: Do it, Duffy!
The sooner the better. We’ll be watching the fireworks along with the election results.
With the holidays soon upon us, regular people will be affected in ways the Senate minority and the ailing Air Traffic Controllers have yet to grasp.
I don’t think Duffy has a clue how the very complex structure of the total airspace works. I was ATC for 38 years, controller and management. I don’t have a clue how to do that somehow and make it more effective at the moment. Traffic restrictions are the only thing I can think of, reduce workload with reduced resources.
Roger, too bad you were out of the game when ZAU went ATC Zero. That was “airspace closure” and it was ugly. Amazing all the LOAs that produced after the fact! Every TRACON under their airspace was winging it and doing their best to keep traffic moving overhead at altitudes they’ve never worked. Manual handoffs were it from surrounding center sectors you rarely talked to.
Hey Dave, what year was that?
Among the many things that Duffy fails to realize is that the population-at-large doesn’t know or care about the subtleties of political knife-fighting. “A pox on both their houses”, is the most common reaction to all the odors emanating from the DC Swamp. Very, very rarely is there equal blame to be ascribed, but such complexities are lost in the news media, itself reflecting the political leanings of its owners (or markets) while attempting to be “fair and balanced”.
If the airspace is closed, it won’t matter whether it is because of ATC staffing issues, failure to agree on a budget funding it, intransigent parties refusing to compromise, exigent circumstances, or alien invasion. Regular folks (as opposed to seasoned travelers and the pilot community) know nothing about ground stops or sector coordination or ramp capacity. All they know is that their holiday plans have been knocked into a cocked hat, and that someone in DC is responsible.
How do you “close an airspace”? Put up traffic cones and Jersy walls? TFR the entire Eastern Seaboard?
If I take off from my County airport, will I have a flight of F-16s on my 6 o’clock?
By “closing airspace” does that mean they intend to ground ALL air traffic, including GA VFR flights? Sounds a little eerie.
I would expect nothing more from a non-journalist TV presenter taking on a task that is way above his level. Turn the lights out… Run and Hide.
Almost makes me relieved I sold my 182 last month!
Associated Press this afternoon (11/5): The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it would reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown.