KEILAR: Unions representing aviation workers are issuing a dire warning, that air safety is, quote, "deteriorating by the day" as a result of the government shutdown. Sources tell our affiliate in Hawaii that some TSA officers have started turning in their resignations. It's not clear exactly how many but the TSA says absentee rates are double what they were a year ago. The head of the Air Traffic Controllers Association says the stress is taking its toll.</s>PAUL RINALDI, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION: The fatigue in my work environment right now where I'm seeing routine mistakes are actually happening because they're thinking about which credit cards can I consolidate up for zero interest? Who is giving you a break on your phone bill? Which company is helping you out so you could skip your mortgage? These conversations are happening in the work environment because the stress is getting very high.</s>KEILAR: Michael Huerta is the former FAA administrator. Sir, thank you for being with us and lending your authority to this conversation.</s>MICHAEL HUERTA, FORMER FAA ADMINISTRATOR: Thank you, it's my pleasure.</s>KEILAR: You heard there the head of the Air Traffic Controllers Union saying routine mistakes are happening. What kinds of things would you worry might slip through the cracks?</s>HUERTA: Well, there is no one at the FAA that is going to intentionally do anything that is not safe. But like Paul, I am concerned about fatigue and concerned about distraction. You think about it, being an air traffic controller is one of the toughest jobs we have in our country. It requires a high degree of technical training and controllers are being asked to forego paychecks. They've lost one. They will forego another one in the next few days and it's ridiculous. They find themselves in a situation where they have to drive for Uber; they perhaps have to wait on tables during their time off. That is wrong. What a controller should be using its time off -- his or her time off for is to rest.
Interview with Michael Huerta, Former FAA Administrator.