Exploration of Sequestration Impacts on U.S. Air Traffic Delays
Susan Kelly Archer, Casey Richardson

Abstract
This research project examined flight delays data to determine if the span of time when air traffic controller furloughs were implemented due to government sequestration coincided with an increase in recorded flight delays. The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 was enacted into law in the U.S., based on reports suggesting that the month of April 2013was the time period during which the significant increase in delays occurred. The related research question was: Do the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data support the statement made in aJournal of Transportation (2013) article that furloughs caused flight delays to triple? Through a mixedmethod design, incorporating an initial qualitative analysis and subsequent quantitative analysis, the researchers examined the assertion that the time period during which air traffic control employees were furloughed due to government sequester had significantly more flight delays. In all cases, the analysis results supported the assertion.

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