City wants more controllers at LAX

The City Council urged the federal government Wednesday to increase the number of air traffic controllers at Los Angeles International Airport, saying inadequate staffing has jeopardized safety at the world’s fifth-busiest airport.

A resolution introduced by Councilman Bill Rosendahl said LAX had 11 fewer certified air traffic controllers in 2007 than in 2006. The number of close calls between planes on the ground and other incidents more than doubled during that time, Rosendahl said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor disputed the city’s figures. He said LAX had 35 certified controllers in 2007, five fewer than in 2006, and had 11 controller trainees last year.

The FAA said there was no correlation between control tower staffing and runway incidents. More than 80% of such incidents this decade have been the result of pilot error, Gregor said. “LAX is a very safe airport and the control tower is sufficiently staffed today,” he said.

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-- Duke Helfand