NBAA Welcomes FAA Delay For ATC Tower Closures
/"As we have said, air traffic control towers play an integral role in ensuring that America's aviation system remains the safest, largest and most efficient in the world, and we want to see as many towers remain open as possible. We welcome this decision from the FAA, which will give the agency time to take further input from airport officials and others, and to carefully examine all aspects involved in the closure of each tower. NBAA and the business aviation community look forward to providing additional guidance to the FAA in the coming weeks, as agency officials continue their tower-closure review process."
The FAA had planned to begin closing the 149 contract towers on April 7, as a result of the federal government's "sequester," or curtailment of spending at federal agencies. NBAA and other aviation stakeholders have repeatedly met with FAA officials to outline the industry's concerns over the plan; on March 12, Bolen wrote FAA Administrator Michael Huerta outlining the Association's position on the proposed closures, and offering suggestions to help mitigate the impact tower closings on operations.