House bill would put air traffic controllers in airline cockpits

Members of the House Aviation Subcommittee have introduced bipartisan legislation that would let air traffic controllers ride along on airline flights to better understand pilots' working conditions. The FLIGHT DECK Act was filed Sept. 4 by Reps. Nellie Pou, Rob Bresnahan and Hillary Scholten. It would require the FAA to establish a training program for cockpit observation.

The agency would design the program with input from controllers, pilots and airline crews. After one year, the FAA would report to Congress on participation and any obstacles.

Lawmakers said the goal is to improve communication between the two groups. Bresnahan, a pilot, said visiting a control tower gave him perspective on controllers' work, and he argued the cockpit experience could do the same in reverse. The measure comes amid ongoing concerns about controller staffing and ATC infrastructure.