Letter to Federal Aviation Administrator - Stop Sequestration at Airports
Letter
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta urging him to do what he can to continue the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program at Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field (ISO) and at Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN) Airport.
Both the Kingston Regional Jetport and the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport have been notified by the FAA that they are among roughly 200 FCTs being considered for closure due to the sequester that began on March 1.
The FCT program staffs air traffic control towers with contractors instead of FAA employees, which helps to manage air traffic control and increase air safety. If the FCT program is cancelled, the affected airports will remain functional despite the tower being unstaffed. Should this occur, aircrafts will have to audibly communicate with towers that are offsite until they are within five miles of landing. At which time, they will switch to communications with on-the-ground employees who have visual sight of the runway.
In his letter, Butterfield wrote, "It is my understanding that the FAA will make all closure decisions based on whether doing so would negatively impact the national interest, and intends to notify airports selected for FCT defunding on March 13, 2013. Both Kinston Regional Jetport and Coastal Carolina Regional Airport are vital to our nation's security and economy. To that end, I urge you to continue to support their towers."
The full letter follows.
March 12, 2013
The Honorable Michael Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591
Dear Administrator Huerta:
I write to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program at Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field (ISO) in Kinston, North Carolina, and at Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN) Airport in New Bern, North Carolina.
Both Kinston Regional Jetport and Coastal Carolina Regional Airport have been notified by the FAA that they are among 189 FCTs being considered for closure as a result of budget sequestration. It is my understanding that the FAA will make all closure decisions based on whether doing so would negatively impact the national interest, and intends to notify airports selected for FCT defunding on March 13, 2013. Both Kinston Regional Jetport and Coastal Carolina Regional Airport are vital to our nation's security and economy. To that end, I urge you to continue to support their towers.
Specifically, ISO is an emergency divert facility for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and receives military flights from a dozen other bases. ISO is also the Federal Emergency Management Agency's staging facility for Eastern North Carolina and home to the North Carolina Global TransPark, where major companies contribute to our national economy and produce critical products such as fuselages for Airbus and Boeing aircraft. EWN is surrounded by military bases including Marine Corps Air Station -- Cherry Point which uses the field for helicopter training. Ten percent of EWN's operations are military-related, and the tower works closely with sixteen military flying units to maintain a safe flow of air traffic.
For these reasons and more, I would appreciate your full and careful consideration of this matter.
Please contact me or Dennis Sills on my staff at 202.225.3101 should you need additional information.
Thank you very much.
Very truly yours,
G. K. Butterfield
Member of Congress
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