The Nation : Controller Errors Studied

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said he has organized a special task force to determine why mistakes by air-traffic controllers have risen this year. The number of controller errors rose 18% during the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 1986. The agency had anticipated that errors would be reduced by at least 2% during this period. FAA Administrator Donald D. Engen said the task-force members will examine the anatomy of each controller’s error to determine how communications with pilots can be improved.