Ga. reps support air traffic controllers in mold controversy

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Ga. reps support air traffic controllers in mold controversy

The Citizen.com - Fayetteville,GA*

Tue, 10/16/2007

By: Ben Nelms

http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/21548

Georgia's congressional delegation has entered the fray over alleged

health problems at the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)

Atlanta Center in Hampton.

The Atlanta Center is the work site where hundreds of air traffic

controllers monitoring high-altitude flights over much of the

southeastern United States have reported unexplained illnesses they

believe is caused by a fungus found by an environmental contractor

in late September.

In an Oct. 12 letter to federal Secretary of Transportation

s, delegation members cited their concern over the poor

conditions at the center that they contend are affecting the health

of employees while detrimentally impacting the safety and efficiency

of the airspace for which controllers are responsible.

" We write today to express our concern regarding the conditions of

the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center located in Hampton,

Georgia, " the letter says.

" While this facility is distinguished as the busiest en route air

traffic control center in the world, the working conditions within

are unfortunately unacceptably poor and are having a detrimental

impact on the ability of the controllers to do their job. We urge

the Federal Aviation Administration to remedy the situation

immediately, " the letter says.

" Controllers who should be concentrating on airplanes are instead

distracted by a leaking roof and exposure to environmental dangers

such as asbestos, mold and other air contaminants, " the letter

says. " Furthermore, as the Atlanta Center is one of the busiest air

traffic control facilities in the country, we remain significantly

concerned of the potential impact of this continuing problem on the

entire National Airspace System. "

Citing what was referred to as deplorable work conditions, Georgia's

elected officials also noted the decision last week by Peachtree

Mechanical, Inc. to stop work by its subcontractors on the

ventilation system at the Hampton facility. The decision came after

quantities of the illness-causing fungus Scopulariopsis was found in

areas surrounding the control room.

" It is particularly alarming that a contractor hired by the FAA to

perform work at Atlanta Center has decided to issue a work stoppage

due to the mold, citing the need to `act to protect the well-being

and safety of all our employees.' Yet, in the same building, air

traffic controllers are required by FAA to report to work everyday,

and for many controllers they are reporting to work for six-day work

weeks, " the Oct. 12 letter said.

Also referenced in the letter was a January meeting with Congressman

Lynn Westmoreland and FAA En Route and Oceanic Services Director

Rick Day.

Issues such as the Hampton facility's leaking roof were addressed

but controllers assert that little has been done since that time to

sufficiently address the poor conditions at the Atlanta Center.

A July 24 hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure

Committee was also conducted, with conditions at the facility, such

as controllers having to use umbrellas at their consoles to keep

equipment dry, being explained again to FAA officials.

For their part, air traffic controllers are saying they hope that

FAA will finally take the necessary steps to ensure that the work

environment can be one free of health-related hazards.

National Air Traffic Controller's Association (NATCA) local chapter

President Calvin thanked all Georgia's congressmen and

senators who have come together and recognized the need to fix the

deplorable working conditions of the world's best air traffic

controllers.

" The controllers of Atlanta Center would especially like to thank

Congressman Westmoreland for his leadership in not only composing

the letter but getting all delegates regardless of party affiliation

to come together for this common goal, " said Tuesday.

further noted a sentiment expressed by many of the hundreds

of air traffic controllers and contractors who populate the Atlanta

Center.

" To have to ask every elected delegate in this state to implore the

FAA to do the right thing by providing their employees with an

environment free from possible electrocution by fixing a leaking

roof, and free from highly toxic mold that has been making us sick

for years, is shameful, " said. " It speaks directly to the

lack of respect our employer has for us. I feel like we work in a

federal sweat shop. "