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CED-78-131 1 (1978-06-29)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxmh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DOCUHENT RESURE 06296 - [B18468641 Second-Career Training for Air Traffic Ccntrollers Shcjld Be Discontinued. CED-78-'131; 5-164497(1). June 29, 1978. 14 pp. 5 appendices (9 pp.). Report to the Congress; by Robert F. Keller, Acting Comptroller General. Issue Area: Personnel management and Compensation: CcmFensaLion (305); Transportation Systems and Folicies (24C0). Contact: Community and Economic Development Div. Budget Function: Income Security (600); Education, Manpcuer, and Social Services: Training and Emiloyment (504). Organization Concerned: Department of Iransportaticn; federal Avition Administration. Conqgressional Relevance: House Committee cn Post Office and Civil Service; Senate Committee cn Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Congress. Authority: (P.L. 92-297; 5 U.S.C. 3381). 5 U.S.C. 5337. The Federal Aviation Administraticn (FAA) employs over 18,000 air traffic controlldrs. In the into 3st of aviation safety, controllers must meet specific heal.h and performance standards or be removed from duty. Since limited cppcrtutiti'-s exist outside the Government for the specialized knowledge and experience of controllers, the Congress established the Second Career Program in 1972 to provide air traffic ccatrclle:s with up to 2 years of training for a new career. Findings/Couclusions: About 50% of ccntrcliers eligible for the Second Career Program have declined training. An analysis in three FAA regions showed that only 71 cf the controllers had completed training and obtaine7 emplcytert in new careers for which they trained under the program. Program costs averaged $370,000 for each successful program Farticipant. About S61 of the controllers removed from duty had mental and physical impairments; many were the victims ot advancing ags. fcst cf the controllers removed frcm duty chose tc use income security and training benefits available under other Federal prcgrans rather than begin a second career. In additic, ccvtzcilers were not adequately counseled by the Agency, and no elfort was made to find employment within te Federal Gcgerrment. Recommendations: The Conqress should disr.ontinue the Second Career Traini.g Program for air traffit controllers. Concurrent with the discontinuance of the program, the Adinistrator of the FAA should: adopt and implement a policy to reassign, tc the fullest extent possible, controllers removed frcm air traffic control duty within the FAA; and assist controllers to choose a course of action, considering the potential for reassignment within the FAA or reemployment in another Federal agency dnd eligitility for benefits from other Federal progra-s. (BES)