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FAA's top air traffic official taking part in government

buyout

program

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Tim Arel had worked for government for 40 years

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Agency has faced criticism for not addressing concerns

sooner

about helicopters and airplanes near Reagan National

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal

Aviation Administration's air traffic organization is stepping

down after 40 years of federal government service, an agency

spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Tim Arel, who is chief operating officer of the FAA Air

Traffic Organization, is taking part in the U.S. Transportation

Department's voluntary deferred retirement program, the

spokesperson said.

"He has committed to stay for the next few months to ensure

a smooth transition," according to the spokesperson, who said he

had originally planned to retire by the end of 2025.

His departure comes as lawmakers have been examining why the

agency did not address concerns about close calls between

helicopters and airplanes near Reagan Washington National

Airport before a January 29 fatal collision between an American

Airlines ( AAL ) regional jet and Army helicopter that killed 67

people.

Arel did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Separately, the FAA said it has installed a new management

team to oversee air traffic control at Reagan National,

confirming a Washington Post report.

The FAA brought in a new management team at Reagan "to

ensure strong support for the workforce" and added priorities

include reviewing safety data trends, performance management

"and ensuring facility training is robust and consistently meets

national standards," the agency said.

The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of

targeted staffing levels and a series of near-miss incidents has

raised concerns in recent years. A persistent shortage of

controllers has delayed flights and, at many facilities,

controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.

"There is no question that we are seeing too many close

calls," Arel told employees in 2023.

Senators last month pressed the FAA for failing to act on

thousands of reports of helicopters in dangerous proximity to

airplanes near Reagan.

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau acknowledged the

data was troubling and said "clearly something was missed."

In March, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on

helicopter traffic around the airport, which has the single

busiest runway in the United States. The FAA has mandated a halt

to air traffic when essential helicopters are operating near

Reagan.

Last week, the FAA said it may slow flight arrivals at

Reagan after the collision. It is also increasing operational

supervisor staffing from six to eight and an FAA stress

management team will visit the airport offering confidential

support for staff.

The FAA is reviewing the airport's "arrival rate of aircraft

per hour, which is disproportionately concentrated within the

last 30 minutes of each hour."

On March 28, a near-miss between a departing Delta Air Lines

A319 and a group of Air Force jets approaching Arlington

National Cemetery triggered a cockpit collision warning for the

Delta plane, leading to renewed safety concerns.

Also last month, a fight occurred in the Reagan air traffic

control tower and an employee was arrested and placed on leave,

the FAA said.