Just as we put this issue to bed, the US legislature passed a bill funding ATC by allowing the FAA to raid our airport funds. We welcome the stay, but we fear politics and budgetary constraints may yet curtail ATC, so this article will help you be ready if/when the other shoe drops. —FB
In the initial fuss over the tower closures, you may have overlooked the total staffing reduction at the FAA. No one we’ve corresponded with can say exactly what the effects would be, but it’s reasonable to assume there will be a potentially significant impact, ranging from declined VFR advisory services, to delayed clearance delivery or in-trail spacing restrictions and perhaps even—gasp!—real, no-kidding holds with racetrack patterns, EFCs and everything. Advice? Be ready for anything.
