Five Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers based at Detroit Metro Airport have come forth as whistleblowers, telling all about the dangers that persist with air travel. They point to an unorganized system that confuses pilots and dispatchers. Many people are gracious to these FAA whistleblowers for exposing this information, special counsel Carolyn Lerner told the AP.
A main safety issue with air travel is the ever-changing, often conflicting flight plans handed down to dispatchers and pilots. These flight plans change due to reasons ranging from weather complications to simple miscommunication. The problem with conflicting flight plans is that dispatchers cannot account for pilot locations and this can lead to tragic events. "While safety officials consider the risk to aircraft from multiple plans low, it was acknowledged in the reports that it could lead to confusion that carries some risk, as well as additional work for air traffic controllers," according to the Detroit Free Press.
Another issue is the overall ineffectiveness of much of the software used by these flight companies. They have glitches and this also leads to dispatchers unaware of a plane's location. The Federal Aviation Administration has come out and disclosed this information, but according to Sport Act, not much progress has been made since.
