Fran Daniel
www.journalnow.com

Richard Burr and Kay Hagan are among 55 U.S. senators who are asking the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a long-term strategy and plan for the Federal Contract Tower Program.

North Carolina has five contract air-traffic control towers, including one at Smith Reynolds Airport.

The senators made the bipartisan request in a letter dated July 31 to Michael Huerta, FAA administrator.

The letter says that the FAA has initiated a planning effort aimed at reducing the national airspace system and the formation of a low-activity tower working group.

The senators also wrote that there are few details, except for vague statements by FAA officials, "indicating an intention to match FAA's services and facilities with the demand from aviation stakeholders."

"We believe it is critically important that the FAA work collaboratively and in partnership with the key aviation stakeholders before making important policy decision that impact the long term sustainability of contract towers nationwide," wrote the senators.

The senators asked several questions that they want FAA officials to respond to by Aug. 29.

The questions include:
- How does the FAA plan to support the continued operation of the Federal Contract Tower Program in its long-term strategic planning?
- How does the FAA believe the program fits within efforts to right-size the national airspace system?

"We passed bipartisan legislation in the Senate to keep these contract towers open because of the critical services they provide to many North Carolina communities," Hagan, a Democrat, said in a press release. "Developing a plan to ensure the future of these towers will preserve jobs in North Carolina jobs and address safety concerns that arise from not having control towers."

To read the full article on the Winston Salem Journal's website, please click here.