Controller retraining urged // O'Hare staff needs back-to-basics course, safety board tells FAA

WASHINGTON Back-to-basics refresher courses for overworkedcontrollers at O'Hare Airport were urged Monday by the NationalTransportation Safety Board.

A report by the independent watchdog agency also suggested thatthe Federal Aviation Administration offer incentives to attractexperienced air traffic controllers to Chicago and installstate-of-the art computer equipment in the radar room and tower.

"We will seriously consider the recommendations," said FredFarrar, an FAA spokesman.

The board said the special investigation was prompted by a"dramatic increase" in controller mistakes.

The number of errors by O'Hare controllers shot up from 12during …