The Enquirer

U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, has added his name to a letter requesting $14 million next year to start hiring more air traffic controllers.

DeWine is one of three GOP members and seven senators overall to sign the letter to transportation appropriations subcommittee chairman Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., requesting the money in the fiscal 2005 budget. The money also was requested for the 2004 budget, but not included.

Congress' investigational arm reported this month that a potential impending retirement wave among controller ranks could mean nearly half of active controllers would be gone in nine years. Locally, a nearly a quarter of the active controllers at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport could retire in the next three years, just as a new runway comes on line.

DeWine spokeswoman Amanda Flaig said that the request was to "ensure the safety of the nation's aviation system was not compromised."