Facility Closed Due To Roofing Problems Will Shut Down For
Good
Considering the roof
has already fallen in at the Millville Airport Flight Service
Station, it might not sound surprising to hear that the facility
will likely close in the very near future. Nevertheless, the news
came as quite a shock to the employees who learned this week they
have little more than two weeks left to work there, instead of the
six-to-18 months they were originally told.
According to a letter written Thursday by National Association
of Air Traffic Specialists Regional Director Ron Consalvo, the news
came from Lockheed Martin, the company scheduled to take over
operations at the facility on October 4.
The company is giving current employees the option of either
resigning from the company or moving to a new location -- at their
own cost, according to a report in the Bridgeton, NJ, News.
Lockheed Martin was originally supposed to take over control of
the facility from the FAA, maintaining operations there while
keeping on most of the current staff. However, that was before an
air conditioner fell through the facility's roof late last
month.
"The unfortunate
collapse of the Millville AFSS roof has required Lockheed Martin to
adjust our planning in regards to your employment situation," said
a company letter given to employees. "The FAA is currently
evaluating alternatives as to what they will do about repairing the
facility, but, in any case, the facility will not be available for
at least 60 days or longer."
Consalvo was quick to state that many of the employees at
Millville will not be able to make the move.
"For 11 employees, this does not work," he said. "Personal or
family situations will not allow us to move."
Lockheed Martin is offering those Millville workers who had
already accepted employment offers from the company the choice to
transfer permanently to one of three FSS hubs in Arizona, Texas, or
Virginia before October 10. Unless an employee was already selected
to receive a relocation package to one of the locations, such a
move would be on the employee's nickel. An employee could also
transfer to one of 17 "legacy" sites within the same timeframe,
under the same terms.
If an employee opts not to take a permanent transfer, they will
be offered a temporary assignment to any AFSS of their choice
within the Eastern Service Area. Such an assignment would indeed be
temporary, however, lasting a minimum of 120 days.