The federal government runs air traffic control because that was the easiest way to do things in the early days of flying. Today, the entire system remains federally managed—even as commercial aviation has become far more complex.

A federal watchdog is launching an audit into why a dozen air traffic controllers were moved from New York to Philadelphia last year​.

Staff are burnt out — and very concerned about safety and feel very strongly that those moved to Philadelphia should come back to this facility,” Gillen said.