Page 22 - March19

AVIATION ISSUES
Full Funding Request for CTP,
Runway Incursions
Investigation at CY YZ and
New Customs Entry in Florida
Aviation Groups Ask for Full Funding for
Contract Tower Program
In a recent letter to Rep. Nita Lowey (D-17-NY),
chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee,
a number of aviation groups asked that the Committee
fully fund the Contract Tower Program in the FY 2020
appropriations bill. The $170 million requested will
fund the 256 contract towers currently in the program
(smaller airports in 46 states) and provide full-year
funding for several new airports expected to be added
to the program in FY 2020.
The group pointed out that the “FAA Contract Tower
Program has provided cost-effective and essential air
traffic safety services for over three decades,” and
together the “256 towers handle approximately 28
percent of all air traffic control tower aircraft operations
in the U.S. but only account for about 14 percent of the
FAA’s overall budget allotted to the air traffic control
tower operations,” saving the FAA and taxpayers
“approximately $200 million per year.” The letter further
stated that “the safety and efficiency record of the FAA
Contract Tower Program has been validated numerous
times by the DOT Inspector General, as well as by FAA
safety audits.”
The letter also stated, “The FAA controls and oversees
the Contract Tower Program including operating
procedures, staffing plans, certification and medical
tests of controllers, security and facility evaluations. The
contract towers operate together with the FAA-staffed
by Kim Blonigen
facilities throughout the country as part of the unified
national air traffic control system.”
The letter was signed by U.S. Contract Tower
Association Executive Director J. Spencer Dickerson,
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President and
CEO Mark Baker, National Air Transportation Association
President Gary Dempsey, National Association of State
Aviation Officials President and CEO Shelly Simi,
Cargo Airline Association President Stephen Alterman,
Regional Airline Association President Faye Malarkey
Black, National Business Aviation Association President
and CEO Ed Bolen, Airports Council International – NA
President and CEO Kevin Burke and Air Traffic Control
Association President and CEO Peter Dumont.
Also receiving a letter were Reps. David Price (D-4-
NC), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25-FL), Kay Granger (R-12-
TX), and Sens. Richard Shelby (R-AL), chairman of
the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patrick Leahy
(D-VT), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI).
TSB Canada Investigates Runway Incursions
at CYYZ
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada
submitted Investigation Report A17O0038 regarding
runway incursions that occurred on the inner runway
(06L/24R) at the Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International
Airport (CYYZ). The investigation was conducted for
the purpose of advancing transportation safety. There
were 27 incursions that occurred between June 2012
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­ KING AIR MAGAZINE MARCH 2019