Lawmakers Want To Keep Approach Facility There Open

Colorado congressmen are opposing an FAA plan to close Pueblo's approach control facility and hand off control of air traffic to facilities in Colorado Springs or Denver.

The FAA announced the proposal in September, but has yet to make a final decision. The aviation agency is looking at consolidating operations in 170 facilities nationwide to save money.

Representative John Salazar says it's a safety issue. In a statement released Wednesday he said, "I have flown into the Pueblo airport many times and am concerned about the potential impact on air traffic safety if the proposal is approved."

A new pilot screening program awarded to Doss Aviation and set to take off at Pueblo is adding a wrinkle to the debate. Pueblo city officials say traffic handled by controllers will nearly double. The FAA says it can handle the increased traffic, even if Pueblo's approach control facility is closed.

Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard have both contacted the FAA voicing their dissent to the plan. They say they'll fight against closing Pueblo's facility because they believe the increased traffic from the flight screening program will affect safety.

A Salazar spokesman told the Pueblo Chieftain, "Senator Salazar intends to keep that (approach control) service in Pueblo."

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association representative in Pueblo, Bryan Sanford, says Colorado Springs and Denver are already understaffed, and moving Pueblo's controllers to those facilities wouldn't save the FAA money.

As for Doss Aviation, company spokesman Paul Walker says, "We've taken a hands-off approach to this situation. As long as they can provide the service we need, we're willing to let the FAA determine where they want to locate the controllers."

FMI: www.faa.gov