| The signs of a government shutdown were evident at airports nationwide. |
| At least 1,200 flights were canceled Friday, as documented by my colleagues Hannah Fry and Jenny Jarvie, with the situation only expected to worsen. |
| More than 50 flights were canceled at Los Angeles International Airport, while San Diego International Airport suffered a dozen such terminations. |
| Meanwhile, many air travelers experienced significant lags, ranging from 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours at Virginia's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday morning. |
| The cancellations have been deemed necessary by the Federal Aviation Administration to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, who have worked without a full paycheck for weeks. |
| While the conditions leading to flight delays has been well documented, the plight of air traffic controllers has gone largely unnoticed, according to Western Pacific Regional Vice President Joel Ortiz of the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. His union represents roughly 20,000 air traffic controllers, engineers and other aviation safety-related workers. |
| Ortiz has spent the last 10 days in Southern California, visiting airports throughout the region and speaking with union members about their troubles and needs. |
| He also chatted with The Times, hoping to illuminate the challenges faced by his union members. |
Weeks of missing pay |
| About 2,000 union air traffic controllers live and work in the Western Pacific region, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam, according to Ortiz. |
| They received one partial paycheck at the beginning of the shutdown last month and have gone unpaid through two pay periods, with a third looming a week before Thanksgiving. |
| "The air traffic controllers live in areas with little inexpensive housing and high costs, just like everyone else," Ortiz said. "So, they're struggling." |
Coping methods |
| Many controllers have been forced to turn to the generosity of food banks and community organizations, while the airlines and airports have also offered aid. |
| The Alaska Airlines Pilot Assn. contributed pizza and sandwiches to air traffic controllers in Washington and San Francisco last month. Salt Lake City International Airport converted an open space into a pantry Oct. 16, providing groceries, baby products, toiletries and pet supplies for workers in need. |
| The help has been appreciated, Ortiz said, but concerns are mounting. |
| "People are struggling to pay for child care, rent and to put gas in their car," he said. |
| Ortiz said he knows of many air traffic controllers who have taken side jobs during the shutdown, including working for ride-sharing services like Uber or as food delivery drivers and grocery store stockers. |
| He said they must complete between 40 to 60 hours per week per contract rules before taking on second jobs. |
Many members are struggling, despite perceptions of six-figure salaries |
| The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that the median pay for an air traffic controller in 2024 was $144,580 annually, or about $70 per hour. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics also ranks traffic controllers as having one of the nation's most stressful occupations. |
| While the above-average salary may give the impression that union members have enough savings to weather financial storms, Ortiz said many don't. |
| Ortiz said entry-level controllers, "straight out of the academy," earn about $47,000 annually. |
| "Many are struggling," he said. "Many live paycheck to paycheck." |
The path forward |
| Pre-shutdown, air traffic controllers were understaffed with figures between 70% to 75% of what they should be in the Los Angeles area, Ortiz said. |
| Before remedying those issues, though, he implored Congress to compromise and find a solution to the shutdown. |
| "We're not political pawns for posturing," he said. "We're members who are showing up every day to work and doing our part. Now, do yours and find a solution." |
The week's biggest stories |
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| (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) |
Air travel cancellations, delays |
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California politics |
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Southern California fires |
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Media and entertainment news |
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More big stories |
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This week's must-read |
| | | Had it not been for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Will Smith very easily could have won World Series MVP, having led the Dodgers with six RBIs while catching all 74 innings of the series. | | | |
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For your weekend |
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| (Dean Conger/Corbis via Getty Images) |
Going out |
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Staying in |
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| Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team |
| Jim Rainey, staff writer
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew J. Campa, reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters |
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