FAA’s air traffic chief retires early amid workforce cuts and safety pressure
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Tim Arel, the head of its Air Traffic Organization (ATO), is stepping down after 40 years of service in the federal government.
Arel had intended to retire at the end of 2025, but he will now leave in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, the FAA told CBS News in a statement.
The FAA noted that Arel was responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and secure air traffic services for approximately 50,000 aircraft operating every day over nearly 30 million square miles across the National Airspace System (NAS).
His early retirement is part of the second round of buyouts offered by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). On April 1, 2025, the DOT presented thousands of employees with a new buyout option, allowing them to leave government service in exchange for pay and benefits until September 30, 2025.
The first round of the deferred resignation program, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, took place in February 2025 and affected approximately 75,000 federal employees. The buyouts program is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to decrease the federal workforce.
Additionally, Arel’s departure comes amid ongoing pressure on the FAA to address safety issues within the US airspace system.
On January 29, 2025, a tragic midair collision between an American Eagle regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) resulted in the loss of 67 lives. In March 2025, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 narrowly avoided a US Air Force T-38 jet near the same airport.
The FAA responded by restricting helicopter traffic near the airport and increasing operational supervisor staffing from six to eight due to growing concerns about safety. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a recommendation to permanently restrict helicopter operations near DCA when certain runways are in use.
Finally, the agency has appointed a new management team to oversee air traffic control at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The post FAA’s air traffic chief retires early amid workforce cuts and safety pressure appeared first on AeroTime.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Tim Arel, the head of its Air Traffic Organization (ATO),…
The post FAA’s air traffic chief retires early amid workforce cuts and safety pressure appeared first on AeroTime.
