Unless action is taken by Congress in the next few weeks, budget cuts that result from the much talked about sequestration may have a devastating effect on the National Airspace System, the FAA is warning. On April 7, the agency could close as many as 238 control towers around the country, including some at busy airports including Santa Monica, California (SMO), Arlington, Texas (GKY), Frederick, Maryland (FDK), and Space Coast Regional (TIX) in Titusville, Florida.
According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the FAA will need to cut $492.9 million from operations, $142.4 million from facilities and equipment and $8.6 million from research, engineering and development in the fiscal year 2013 budget. And since several months of this fiscal year have already passed, extreme measures are being considered. In addition to the tower closures, the FAA might cut night operations at 60 additional towers, reduce maintenance and support for equipment within the NAS and furlough FAA employees for one or two days each pay period.
