Pittenger to FAA: Stop Making Excuses

Press Release

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided yet another excuse for not making a decision on an operating certificate for the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Commission.

In a letter to Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09), the FAA stated their review of the proposed management transfer "has not been triggered with respect to Charlotte Douglas International Airport because the current airport sponsor (the city of Charlotte) has not requested that FAA transfer sponsorship. Moreover . . . . FAA will refrain from evaluating the request where the ownership and control of the airport remains the subject of an ongoing legal dispute."

"First, the FAA told me they couldn't make a decision until the lawsuit was resolved. Then they told me they couldn't make a decision until the General Assembly clarified specific points of the legislation which created the Airport Commission. Now they tell me they can't start the process until the City of Charlotte makes a request," said Congressman Pittenger.

"Why does the FAA keep dragging out new excuses? Why wasn't all of this information disclosed during our first meeting in April of 2013? Charlotte Douglas International Airport is key to creating jobs and growing the economy. Uncertainty over who runs the airport is bad for the economy and threatens the thousands of jobs which could be created by the new intermodal transport facility."

Congressman Pittenger is focused on obtaining a clear decision from the FAA to resolve the ongoing dispute over airport governance and has not taken sides in the debate.

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