Arizona's smaller airports are feeling the squeeze as a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers leaves some towers short-staffed or intermittently closed. That gap is reshaping schedules at flight schools, charter services and small commercial operators, while airport managers scramble to plug holes in the schedule and juggle operating hours.
A video investigation by Amy Cutler found the shortage "is hitting smaller airports especially hard" and that "some contract towers [have been] forced to shut down when staffing runs too low," according to Arizona's Family. Cutler's report shows local airports trimming tower hours or temporarily shifting to non-towered procedures when certified staff are not available.
The strain reflects a longer-running workforce shortfall. A Government Accountability Office review found the FAA employed about 13,164 controllers at the end of fiscal 2025, roughly 6% fewer than in 2015, and warned the agency still needs clearer goals and better tracking in its hiring pipeline. GAO concluded that lengthy medical and security clearances, along with high attrition in training, remain major bottlenecks.
The FAA says it is trying to close that gap with an accelerated hiring push, new collegiate pipelines and a streamlined academy intake. In an April agency release the FAA described outreach campaigns and training expansions aimed at getting more controllers into the system faster. The FAA adds that these steps should help stabilize staffing at both large hubs and contract towers.
What a Closed Tower Looks Like
When a contract tower shuts down temporarily, responsibility for sequencing and separation often shifts to pilots using advisory frequencies and published procedures. That slows operations and raises workload for flight crews. Aviation outlets and pilot guides note that this can force airlines and charter operators to trim hours or move flights while managers set up alternate procedures. Flying explains the practical steps pilots use at nontowered fields.
Why Smaller Fields Are Vulnerable
Many regional and general aviation airports rely on the Federal Contract Tower program, where only a handful of certified controllers cover each shift. The FAA's 2024 reauthorization included new staffing rules, including a requirement that FCTs serving small and medium hubs be staffed with at least two controllers per operating shift, a reminder of how fragile coverage can be when the pipeline falters. Congress.gov notes the law also expanded workforce development grants to help fill those ranks.
FAA Response and Outlook
Agency officials have told lawmakers they are expanding recruiting, adding college-affiliated training spots and offering on-the-spot hiring and incentives to retain experienced controllers. Still, GAO and industry groups say measurable targets and better data are needed before the pipeline can reliably prevent intermittent closures. See the FAA's announcements and GAO's recommendations for details on the timelines and steps involved. GAO lays out the agency's current plan and suggested fixes.
For travelers and pilots the immediate takeaway is straightforward: check airport and airline notices for changed tower hours and be ready for schedule adjustments at smaller airports. Airport leaders say the shortfall will not be fixed overnight, and officials expect recruitment and training boosts to take months before coverage is reliably restored.
