Sequestered

It’s been at least five minutes since the last manufactured budget crisis in Washington, D.C., so it must be time for another one. The previous cliffs, shutdowns, grand bargains and other adolescent actions over the last 15-20 years have mostly avoided aviation operations in the U.S. Thanks to the latest federal foot-stamping, that could change, however, impacting how you and I aviate.

Key Takeaways:

• A new federal budget crisis (sequestration) is imposing indiscriminate cuts on the FAA, affecting its air traffic control (ATC) system and other operations.
• The FAA plans to close or part-time numerous federal and contract control towers, and staff reductions are expected at FSDOs and for certification processing.
• While not necessarily a safety threat, these cuts will likely impact efficiency, causing slower processing for pilot and medical certifications, and potential ground holds.
• Pilots are advised to check NOTAMs for ATC tower closures and operational changes, especially around major hubs, starting on or around April Fool's Day.

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