Membership Update

February 27, 2013

U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta briefed NATA and other aviation organizations on the impending FAA budget cuts (sequestration) should Congress and the Obama administration not reach an agreement by Friday, March 1st. NATA Executive Vice President Jim Coon attended the meeting.

FAA Administrator Huerta readily admitted that general aviation is taking a disproportionate hit with respect to towers slated for closure (189 contract towers and 49 FAA towers). We provided the tower closure list to you last week and have included it here again for your review. Administrator Huerta also said that decisions were based on having the least amount of impact on the traveling public.

It does not appear that a budget agreement will be reached this week and the sequestration process will be put in motion on Friday.

Under sequestration, the FAA must cut nearly $627 million from its budget this fiscal year. At the end of this week, the FAA is poised to begin sending its employees 30-day notices regarding furloughs, tower closures, and reductions in other air traffic programs.

Any FAA employee furloughs or tower closures will not begin to take place until early April.

In the meantime, Congress and the Obama administration will need to continue efforts to resolve the budget debacle as the law that allows funding to operate our federal government expires on March 27th.