Schumer: Inadequate FAA Funding Hurts New York, LaGuardia Has Fewer Air Traffic Controllers Than Authorized

Schumer: Inadequate FAA Funding Hurts New York, LaGuardia Has Fewer Air Traffic Controllers Than Authorized - Staffing Only 26 Fully Trained Controllers When They Should Have 36

Additionally, Current Control Tower at LGA is Outmoded, has Decades Old Technology and Views that Are Blocked By Nearby Terminal

Schumer Calls for Full Staffing at All NY Airports, Final Approval for Funding for Critically Needed New Tower

Today, in light of a recent staffing problem with Air Traffic Controllers in Lexington that led to a tragic accident, and a history of problems LaGuardia airport's control tower, Senator Charles E. Schumer called for full staffing of the control towers at LaGuardia and airports across the state and called for the Transportation House-Senate Appropriations Conference Committee to give final approval for $60 million for a new air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport. Schumer said the new tower will help ease crippling flight delays at the airport and help controllers manage traffic on the runways in order to prevent more near aircraft collisions. Schumer said one of the most dangerous faults with the current tower is the view of certain taxiways is obstructed by the US Airways terminal. "Cost-cutting is not an effective strategy to manage one of an airport's most important safety mechanisms," Schumer said. "We have seen too many close calls here and just last week, a terrible tragedy. That should be a call for action to the FAA. We need more controllers - not less - to make sure we get the job done safely."

In the wake of last week's accident, Schumer blasted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for air traffic controller shortages in Kentucky, the New York City area, and across the country. The investigation into last week's accident uncovered that only one air traffic controller was on duty at the time of the accident, though the FAA has determined that Bluegrass Airport must have two controllers on duty at all times. Schumer has long believed that continued short staffing and labor strife between the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA) and the FAA has created a serious safety situation that, with ever increasing air traffic in New York area, could one day have dire consequences.

According to available information, only 2 out of 12 New York State air traffic control towers are fully staffed. The current LaGuardia tower only has 26 fully trained controllers on staff with additional 4 trainees, though 36 are authorized. The New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) tower in, Westbury on Long Island, is operating at only 75% of authorized staffing levels. The New York TRACON is responsible for controlling aircraft that arrive and depart from the New York Metropolitan area, one of the largest airspaces in the country. Other airports that are understaffed include JFK (30 out of 36), Islip (18 out of 22) and Newark (31 out of 40). Last week, Senator Schumer called on the FAA to initiate a region-wide study all air traffic control towers and their staffing levels in the New York/New Jersey area to determine if enough controllers are on duty at all times.

In many situations the FAA is unwilling to pay controllers overtime for filling in for a coworker. Due to this policy, air traffic control stations often have to make do with an insufficient number of air traffic controllers. Schumer also pushed today for final approval for $60 million in funding for the long awaited control tower at LaGuardia. "Federal funding for a new air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport will guarantee that every step is being taken to provide the best possible airport safety and efficiency measures," said Senator Schumer. "Growing at an unprecedented rate and serving 26 million passengers, LaGuardia is a critical transportation hub that needs federal funding to continue developing the technology and upgrades it needs to make all its travelers safer." On July 20th the Senate Appropriations Committee passed of the FY07 Transportation Treasury and HUD Appropriations Bill which included language to approve the funding for the LGA Tower project. Schumer said the House Appropriations Committee must also approve the funding, either through a letter to the FAA or by passing the language as part of the joint Senate/House conference committee report on the Appropriations bill before the funding expires at the end of this fiscal year. The LaGuardia tower project started nearly 15 years ago and, with dramatic increases in air traffic projected in the very near future, it is needed now more than ever. The final plan includes a replacement of the aging 42 year old control tower and the ability to install a Category II Instrument Approach, which allows aircraft to land during periods of inclement weather. Overall, the new tower is essential to reduce delays and improve safety on the ground and in the skies. In November 2005, the last month for which data was available, only 62 percent of flights in to LGA arrived and 77 percent left on time. From the current tower, the view of certain taxiways is obstructed by the US Airways terminal. Not having an aircraft in sight visually from the tower compromises the efficiency and the safety of the airport. The current tower at LaGuardia presents many other safety concerns and limitations. The size and capability of the current tower does not permit new equipment to be installed and, as technology is constantly improving, it is imperative that the best available equipment for aviation safety be utilized. As a result of the constant installation and removal of equipment from the roof of the tower and the age of the structure, leaks have developed inside the tower itself. Over the past 2 years, this has lead to the installation of tarps with garden hoses attached in the roof directly above the controller's heads. Numerous times water has leaked onto the equipment and the controllers, interrupting operations and compromising the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations. There is significant funding available from the Aviation Trust Fund previously set aside for tower projects across the country. However, many of the plans for these towers remain unapproved and the funding unspent. Schumer said that this money must be allocated and used quickly to get the project started.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=262481&&year=2006&