How will the shutdown impact flights in San Diego? Former air traffic controller weighs in

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Every government employee is impacted during the nation's first federal government shutdown in nearly seven years.

From airports as large as San Diego International, to smaller airports such as Palomar in Carlsbad, every air traffic controller is expected to go to work during the shutdown, but they aren't getting a paycheck.

The Department of Transportation is expected to furlough more than 11,000 FAA employees, but travel is not stopping. TSA Agents and air traffic controllers are considered essential, but the support staff, HR and many other departments aren't considered essential, and are not allowed to work in the meantime.

“The air traffic controllers are on duty right now although they are not getting paid, they are going to work, they are controlling the airplanes just like normal." Kevin Karpé said.

He worked as an air traffic controller and manager for 38 years, and is now CEO of Diverse Vector Aviation Consulting. He says flights could be delayed because there's not enough support staff to manage the airspace.

“Because of the furlough there might not be enough people to staff every single position in a control facility, especially the larger ones like San Diego, New York, Chicago," Karpé said. "In the control towers, in the radar rooms, it's safe, the controllers are coming to work, they may have to slow the system down at times, but that’s just part of not having enough staffing in the first place.”

He also said the shutdown will put a stop to training and hiring, as the HR department would be considered non-essential.

“Nationwide there’s a shortage of air traffic controllers and so any delay in training is going to affect that," Karpé said, adding that there's been a shortage for decades, and the effects of a shutdown may linger after the shutdown comes to an end.

“These controllers are professionals, they know what they can and cannot handle, the impacts may be weeks down the road, days down the road," Karpé said.