TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Its day 33 of the government shutdown. In the Big Bend area, the Federal Aviation Administration is concerned for numerous reasons, one being safety.
The shutdown is causing setbacks that is putting safety at risk. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration's Staff Support Specialist is currently furloughed which means there are no safety briefings being held and the radar, what staff uses to track aircraft, can no longer be upgraded because of the shutdown.
Hugh Wyckoff, Air Traffic Controllers Association Facility Representative, hopes the shutdown stops so safety can get back on track and workers can get paid.
"We've worked our time. This is now going on for 33 days. We're looking at missing our second paycheck, so it will now be over a month without being paid and we need it to survive," said Wyckoff. "We have a community that's helping us out but we want what is rightfully ours, our pay."
Wycoff said they haven't had a problem with workers calling out but that could change soon if the shutdown continues.
