President Trump's move hurts cruise lines, cruise passengers

Most cruisers fly into their cruise port. Many have learned their lesson and arrive a day before their cruise, but some cut it close and fly in on the day their ship departs.

That's a big risk because a weather delay or a canceled flight can lead to you missing your cruise. And when that happens, unless you have paid for insurance, you will take a huge financial hit as cruise lines do not offer refunds when passengers miss a cruise.

Related: Cruise industry asks crucial port to rethink cruise ban

Weather is not the only reason flights get delayed or canceled. Sometimes, an airline lacks the necessary crew for the plane to take off. A single ill flight attendant could lead to a plane being delayed or a flight being canceled depending upon the availability of a replacement. 

Recently, flights have been canceled and delayed for another reason. There's a shortage of trained air traffic controllers and that's a situation being made worse by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees (FAA) workers were fired on the Friday before the President's Day holiday weekend. This included many probationary air traffic controllers who were targeted as part of a broad effort to reduce the federal workforce.

The firings included FAA workers "hired for FAA radar, landing, and navigational aid maintenance, one air traffic controller told the Associated Press.

These moves come after years of the FAA expressing concerns over a shortage of qualified workers. Last year, the federal agency allowed airlines to trim their flight schedules from Northeast airports due to a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers.

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America needs more air traffic controllers

The Trump administration has made cutting the federal workforce part of its mission. That does not seem to spare areas where the workers are actually desperately needed.

"Recent aviation accidents, such as the midair collision of PSA Airlines Flight #5342 and a Blackhawk helicopter, have drawn attention to the United States' air traffic controller shortage," according to Simple Flying.

The website noted that numerous air traffic controller (ATC) facilities are "understaffed."

"It's clear the Federal Aviation Administration should address this issue swiftly in the interest of aviation safety. However, this shortage has been going on for years, and lacks a simple 'quick fix," the industry publication shared.

It typically takes 2-3 years of training to become an air traffic controller.

"Becoming an air traffic controller is hard, since the application and training process is highly demanding and competitive, taking up to 2 years that include aptitude, psychological, and physical assessments. Those who make it to the academy are expected undergo challenging selection tests," according to Jobtestprep.com.

In order to become an air traffic controller you have to be under 31 years old.

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Air traffic controllers push back

After the recent helicopter crash, the idea was raised by right-wing media figures that the incident may have happened due to air traffic controllers who were not qualified. The implication was that the controllers may have been DEI hires — a term that mean diversity, equity, and inclusion — who were hired over more qualified people.

That's an idea that has been pushed back on by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NACTA).

“As we have stated before, all air traffic controllers – regardless of race or gender – are well-trained and highly skilled dedicated professionals who keep the national airspace system safe and maintain its efficiency on behalf of all Americans. We have performed these duties while working short-staffed, often 6 days a week, 10 hours a day for years at a time, with outdated equipment and facilities that are in many cases more than 60 years old and long overdue to be replaced and modernized," the trade association shared.

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The agency has not commented on the recent cuts to probationary workers but has been aggressively supportive of its members.

“Air traffic controllers, with their unique skill and precision, are the backbone of the world’s safest and most complex airspace system. Every day, they guide thousands of flights, millions of passengers, and tons of cargo safely through dynamic airspace. Becoming a Certified Professional Controller (CPC) is not an easy feat. It requires rigorous training, mastery of complex systems, and the ability to perform under immense pressure," it added.

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