AAAE/USCTA applaud lawmakers for protecting contract tower funding

Spencer Dickerson, Executive Director of the U.S. Contract Tower Association (USCTA), today expressed the organization’s appreciation to Senate and House appropriations committee leaders for affirming the value of FAA contract towers by providing full, dedicated and protected funding for the program as part of the fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill that will be considered by Congress this week.

“On behalf of the nation’s 252 airports with FAA contract towers, we thank the leaders of the House and Senate appropriations committees for their recognition of the role contract towers play in enhancing the safety and efficiency of the nation’s aviation system,” Dickerson said. “By providing guaranteed funding to the program as part of the omnibus spending bill, congressional leaders have made clear their view on a bipartisan basis that FAA contract towers provide real value to the nation’s air transportation system.

“In addition to their important safety benefits, contract towers provide significant cost savings to FAA and taxpayers, help small airports with retaining and developing commercial air service and general aviation, and promote economic development and job creation in local communities,” Dickerson stated. “The bottom line is that, absent this highly successful federal program, many local communities and smaller airports would not receive the significant safety benefits of air traffic control services.”