Thu, Mar 23, 2017
Supports Appropriation Of Not Less That $159 Million For Operations
Earlier this month, the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) joined industry groups in urging Congress to fully fund the FAA's Contract Tower Program as part of its FY 2018 appropriations bill.
ATCA's President and CEO Peter F. Dumont, along with the heads of the US Contract Tower Association, the Regional Airline Association (RAA), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Air Council International – NA (ACI-NA), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), and the Cargo Airline Association (CAA), sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11-NJ) requesting no less than $159,000,000 to maintain operations for the program, which has provided essential air traffic safety services for over three decades.
"Contract towers are critical to the health of the National Airspace System (NAS)," Dumont said. "Disruptions to or cuts in service, no matter how small, can negatively affect the entire NAS and the US economy as a whole. Moreover, rural and urban communities alike benefit greatly from these facilities, as does general aviation. We urge Congress to preserve these necessary facilities and the invaluable services they provide our communities."
The Contract Tower Program is made up of 253 towers in 46 states that handle approximately 28 percent of all air traffic control tower (ATCT) aircraft operations in the US. The program's current funding levels only account for about 14 percent of FAA's overall budget allocated to ATCT tower operations.
The letter was also sent to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ranking Member Rep. Nita Lowey (D-17-NY), as well as to the committee's Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25-FL) and Ranking Member Rep. David Price (D-4-NC).
(Source: ATCA news release)
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.09.24): Hold Procedure
See All