DOT Clears Towers to Operate

WASHINGTON DC- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that DOT has determined that the recently enacted Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 will allow the FAA to transfer sufficient funds to end employee furloughs and keep the 149 low activity contract towers originally slated for closure in June open for the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

The FAA will also put $10 million towards reducing cuts and delays in core NextGen programs and will allocate approximately $11 million to partially restore the support of infrastructure in the national airspace system.

Shortly after the DOT statement was released, NATCA offered their comment: "We are pleased to hear that the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 will allow the FAA to transfer funds to keep 149 contract towers slated for closure open for the remainder of the fiscal year. Contract towers are vital to our nation's airspace and play a key role in our nation's aviation infrastructure. Continuing service at these contract towers will help maintain an important layer of safety." -FAA.gov and NATCA.org