Officials Unable To Provide Details On Emergency Plans

In the words of one FAA official, "this is nothing new." That doesn't mean, however, those opposed to the FAA's planned consolidation of radar facilities throughout the country are giving up the fight to stop that from happening.

On Monday, Southern Region Director John McCartney and four other FAA officials listened to questions and concerns about the planned move of the Palm Beach TRACON to Miami International Airport. In the audience were skeptical air traffic controllers, homeowners, pilots, and legislators... who wanted assurances the move wouldn't compromise air safety.

"This is nothing new," said McCartney, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "There will be no change to the level of service or the level of safety. What we fully expect is greater efficiency."

Very few in attendance agreed, however. "When you consolidate facilities, you are concentrating risk," said Shane Ahearn, spokesman for members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in Palm Beach. "We are very passionate about this being a mistake."

Agency officials were also asked if contingency plans were in place in case of emergency... as what happened last July, one day after the FAA consolidated the Palm Springs TRACON into the Southern California radar facility. As ANN reported, a fiber-optic link connecting Palm Springs radar to Miramar failed, blacking out coverage for about 90 minutes. 

Disturbingly, officials at Monday's meeting in Palm Beach didn't have details to offer... but promised to find out. That didn't sit well with Jim Marinitti, the NATCA chief for Miami.

"You got no documentation. You've got no contingency plans. You've got nothing but talk," said Marinitti. "People have questions. You have no documentation."

Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings -- who three times has blocked the Palm Springs TRACON consolidation -- told attendees his calls and letters to the FAA have been ignored.

"I don't want anyone that works for me not to have an hour for lunch," Hastings said. "And I don't have the responsibility of delivering hundreds of people a million times a year. I can tell you the stress level these people operate under is extraordinary and it would seem to me that we would all be doing everything we can to keep these people."

FMI: http://alceehastings.house.gov/, www.natca.org, www.faa.gov