Contract control towers targeted for cuts

[ATCguy]

As a controller I am fitful of the thought of decreasing the number of contract towers by half. The contract tower program was born out of the strike in 1981 and is hugely successful. It saves the federal government hundreds of millions per annum. On the flip side, as a business man, I agree there are a number of towers that are probably uneccessary. Many towers average less than 100 ops/day.... There are also dozens of FAA operated towers that could join the contract tower program saving more money than the government would realize by shutting down 100+ contract towers. The only reason this hasn't happened is due in part to the strength of NATCA.

 

It is a sordid story in my opinion. Contract towers, busy or not provide a far greater safety to the skies and flying public than most of you know. One single fatality on a runway that use to fall under Delta airspace will negate all the "good" created by trying to save pennies.

 

Happy Holidays

 

ATCguy

[GeorgePerry]

Quote: ATCguy

As a controller I am fitful of the thought of decreasing the number of contract towers by half.

On the flip side, as a business man, I agree there are a number of towers that are probably uneccessary. Many towers average less than 100 ops/day....

It is a sordid story in my opinion. Contract towers, busy or not provide a far greater safety to the skies and flying public than most of you know. One single fatality on a runway that use to fall under Delta airspace will negate all the "good" created by trying to save pennies.

Happy Holidays, ATCguy

[MooneyMitch]

"The simple answer on this issue is:  "It depends".  Maybe OMB rushed too far to one side of the boat in their recommendations, but AOPA rushed just as far too the other.  Austerity measures are coming.  I just wish that the Gov and advocate associations like AOPA could inject some common sense into the process.  Instead of digging their heals in it would be nice if they could work together and attack the problem with some intellectual rigor and a willingness to compromise"

In my opinion, it is AOPA's job, along with us pilot's, to help fight the political fights for general aviation.  The govt. has come out swinging full force with this proposal and in return, AOPA has come out full force in opposition, which it should.  Kill the beast! 

As with most things in life, compromise is usually the end result.  With the govt. taking such a strong stance with specific numbers of proposed closures, it is obvious that a one size fits all approach is not correct. 

It is quite possible that the OMB has thrown this out just to see how the water ripples.  Who of us regular folks really know how these types of edicts evolve within the govt. I have a hunch myself, but that's another story.

Anyway, kill this overkill notion!  Hit it hard!  Then start over, making intelligent decisions using input from others that can lead to a logical result.  A logical result that could actually close contract towers that may not really be needed.   

[sapientia]

As someone who is new to flying I have a more objective viewpoint.  I have been flying for 3 months now and had my PPL for roughly 1 month.  In that time I have flown quite a few cross countries in North Carolina.  One thing I have noticed is the striking lack of activity at most airports I have visited.  As it relates to the topic, I have landed at VUJ (Stanley County) a couple times; it is towered Class D.  The first time I landed there I taxied to the GA ramp which was the size of a Walmart parking lot and there wasn't a single plane or person to be seen.  Went into the beautiful new GA building and it too was virtually abandoned with the exception of one older gentlemen who looked after the place.  I still have never seen another plane at this particular airport.

Overall I have gotten the feeling with aviation that I am late to a party that ended some time ago.  Granted, these are just the impressions of a newbie with very limited experience, but I have to say it makes me sad.  Sort of like visiting many a downtown that has long lost any sense of vitality and sits in decay echoing times past when the world was a different place. 

All that being said I am currently flying out of INT (Winston Salem) which is towered; it has a decent amount of activity mostly owing to the flight school but certainly not even close to the aforementioned 900 operations/day.

 

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: sapientia

Overall I have gotten the feeling with aviation that I am late to a party that ended some time ago.

[GeorgePerry]

deleted post

 

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