How does ATC staffing affect delays?
 

Hi All,

A common theme that I'm seeing in delay reports is that there are delays due to ATC staffing issues, for example:

• https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Fl...504862892.html
• https://www.eurocontrol.int/publicat...rope-july-2019

In practical terms, how does a shortfall in ATC staff actually affect takeoff and departures? Is it that a single controller can only monitor a certain number of planes at once? What's the practical difference in what an airport can do with 2 controllers versus 3, etc.. ?

Thanks!

EPA

It is the enroute sectors which causes the delays. If sectors have to be combined, workload is increased on controllers. As a result, some airspace may be so saturated that they cannot accept any more aircraft in their airspace. The end result is a) a re-route around the affected sector(s); or b) delay/expedite the flight to get to/through the airspace before the constraints become effective.

I suspect you have the same with departures and arrivals. The capacity on an AADC chart is likely defined by the controller staffing.