Air Traffic Controllers Now Processing Cash for Clunkers Applications

Well, this is comforting for anyone about to fly somewhere:

The U.S. Transportation Department, billions of dollars behind in paying "cash-for-clunkers" rebates, has hired private contractors and solicited volunteers from the Federal Aviation Administration and its own executive ranks to work overtime to clear the backlog.

Employees of the FAA's air-traffic-control unit were asked to help, but the Transportation Department stressed Friday that essential safety personnel were not diverted from their duties.

A total of 1,200 workers, including about 300 contractors from Citigroup, the financial services giant, are now working seven days a week to review applications and reimburse auto dealers for rebates advanced to customers, officials said.

On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the program would stop taking applications Monday at 8 p.m. to provide an "orderly wind-down" and ease uncertainty about when funds would run out.

The National Automobile Dealers Association, which had endorsed the move, urged the Obama administration late Friday to extend the deadline because the program's Web site was crashing.

"Many dealers are working round-the-clock to submit their 'clunkers' applications to meet the administration's deadline," the group said. "Despite these efforts, computer issues may prevent some 'clunker' applications from being submitted in time, through no fault of the dealers."

I wonder if air traffic controllers also make good doctors? We'll need them if Obamacare passes.