Eleven Advocacy Organizations Urge Dedicated Funding For The Program

With an eye toward the conclusion of the federal government's 2013 fiscal year on Sept. 30, 11 aviation organizations recently signed a joint letter to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, not only thanking them for legislation passed earlier this year to preserve contract air traffic control towers slated for closure, but to also reaffirm the need for continued funding for the facilities in the future.

“Events of recent months have made it abundantly clear that the FAA Contract Tower Program enjoys strong bipartisan support in both Chambers, and we urge Congress to dedicate funding to the program for FY2014,” reads the May 29 letter sent to House appropriations committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-5-KY) (pictured, right), Senate appropriations committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) (pictured, left) and other ranking committee members.

Earlier this year, the FAA announced its intent to close 149 federal contract control towers in order to meet budget-curtailment requirements in effect because of budget sequestration, or reduced spending by federal agencies to help curb the nation’s deficit. That decision drew significant concerns from airport leaders, aviation groups and elected officials at all levels of government.

Following passage of congressional legislation intended to preserve the towers, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood announced May 10 that the FAA would instead use part of $253 million in reallocated funds authorized by the congressional bill to keep the facilities open through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Transportation leaders have not yet said whether the towers will remain open past the end of September.

In their May 29 letter, aviation-organization leaders urged lawmakers to provide $150 million in dedicated funding in the FY2014 budget to preserve the contract tower program should sequestration continue to be enforced. “This funding level will fund the current contract towers in addition to several non-towered airports eligible for the program and will continue this important FAA safety program,” the letter noted.

"The FAA Contract Tower Program has provided cost-effective and essential air traffic safety services since 1982.  Currently, 251 smaller airports in 46 states participate in the program," the letter states. "Together these 251 towers handle approximately 28 percent of all air traffic control tower (ATCT) aircraft operations in the U.S. but account for just 14 percent of FAA’s overall budget allotted to total ATCT tower operations.  More importantly, the safety and efficiency record of the FAA Contract Tower Program has been validated numerous times by the DOT Inspector General, as well as by the National Transportation Safety Board."

“NBAA has long maintained that these facilities are integral components in the world’s safest, largest, most diverse and most efficient aviation system,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “As lawmakers debate the federal government’s funding requirements for the upcoming fiscal year, we ask that they also consider the important role that contract towers play in our national airspace system.”

FMI: Read the Letter