Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate delegation has filed a bill to keep air traffic controllers in the industry after retirement, working as full-time instructors.
As The Journal Record's Dale Denwalt reports, they can't make more than about $16,000 dollars in post-retirement jobs right now, but the bill would exempt income earned as a trainer:
Because air traffic controllers must retire at age 56, they are allowed to pay into a special account that will supplement their retirement income until Social Security kicks in. According to federal guidelines, recipients making more than $15,720 per year in a post-retirement job cannot claim that supplemental income. . . . Supporters of the legislation say the income cap keeps retired controllers from teaching full-time, which forces the company in charge of the training contract, SAIC, to hire replacement instructors throughout the year once retirees reach the income limit. “As a result, it could take up to four former controllers to fill one full-time equivalent instructor position,” said Lauren Presti, SAIC spokeswoman. “Waiving the cap will encourage more former controllers to work full time, thus reducing the cost of training new instructors.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.) filed similar legislation in the House.
The company that hires the instructors learned that retired instructors leave the classroom after about three months to avoid that cap. This quadruples the cost of finding and training new instructors, Denwalt writes:
The bill would allow ATC retirees to work as instructors without violating the cap. The exemption would not apply to any other source of income. Russell said the bill is needed now because of the expected influx of air traffic controller students. The U.S. needs more than 7,000 in the next five years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The influx will mean more trainers are needed, and Russell said retirees are the best ones for the job. “This is a case where they only possess these skills,” Russell said. “Where else are you going to find them?”
KGOU relies on voluntary contributions from readers and listeners to further its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. To contribute to our efforts, make your donation online, or contact our Membership department.
