Will air traffic controllers end another government shutdown? They hope not.

The government shutdown is days away from becoming the longest in American history. A 35-day funding pause in December 2018 and January 2019 has ended in part because staffing at some of the country’s busiest airports has been dwindling.

During the current shutdown, great emphasis has been placed on air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration screening officers. These workers are considered essential and continue to work without pay.

So far, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have largely sunk into their respective positions, with no quick solution in sight.

The closure will reach the 35-day mark on November 5; This is a record for the longest previous closure and comes at a point where severe air traffic staffing shortages at some airports are increasing pressure on government officials to restore the flow of funds.

How did aviation workers help end the previous shutdown?

Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and TSA officers are largely seen as catalysts in ending the longest previous shutdown.

As the previous closure entered its 35th day on January 25, 2019^This The next day, flight delays and cancellations began piling up along the East Coast due to significant air traffic controller staffing issues, on top of long-standing staffing issues that continued to plague the agency. Contemporary reports indicated that the FAA noticed a “slight increase in sick leave” that day; This put pressure on lawmakers in Washington to finally resolve the impasse. President Donald Trump signed legislation to turn the federal funding taps back on that day.

Do Air Traffic Controllers and TSA officers get reimbursed?

Yes, essential workers who continue their duties during funding cuts typically receive back pay when the government reopens.

Embers previously threatened Some furloughed federal employees may not receive back pay after the shutdown ends, but that does not appear to affect those who continue to work.

How have flights performed so far during this closure?

Flight operations have remained largely normal, although air traffic control facilities across the country have experienced occasional staff shortages since the shutdown began.

“Flight cancellations are very low,” Mike Arnot, a spokesman for aviation data analysis company Cirium, said in a statement on Oct. 27.

Cirium tracks airline on-time delivery performance, among other metrics, and its data shows that airlines have largely operated within a normal range in terms of on-time delivery since the shutdown began.

Most major U.S. airports hover around the 80% on-time departure target, which is considered the industry standard. According to Cirium data, performance in October was broadly similar to September; but October 30 saw some of its worst on-time airline performance since the shutdown began.

What are ATC union representatives saying so far during this shutdown?

Although air traffic controllers are widely seen as having played a central role in ending the previous shutdown, union representatives say they hope to remain apolitical and focus on the safety of the traveling public.

“Air traffic controllers don’t start or stop government shutdowns — politicians do. But right now, the people who keep our skies safe and our nation moving are doing their jobs without a paycheck,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in a statement Oct. 29. “Many people already work six days a week, and now they face the impossible choice of taking on extra jobs just to feed their families. Meanwhile, Congress is steering us toward what could be the longest shutdown in our nation’s history, adding risk to an already fragile system.”

Officials from the government and the air traffic controllers union say flying remains safe but warn that the longer the shutdown lasts, the more stress safety-critical workers will be under.

“The pressure is real,” air traffic controller Joe Segretto said at a news conference with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Oct. 28. “We’ve got people trying to keep these planes safe, we’ve got interns trying to learn a new job that’s too fast, too stressful, too complex, now worrying about how they’re going to pay their bills.”

What are your rights if your flight is affected?

If your flight is affected by staffing issues related to the closure, you may not have much rights. FAA staff are considered to be outside of an airline’s control, so carriers aren’t on the hook as much for delays caused by mechanical problems or other causes on their end.

However, if your flight is canceled for any reason, including the inadequacy of air traffic controllers, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to fly on alternative routes offered by your airline.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Air traffic controllers brace for breaking point as closure extends