FAA faces ‘devasting’ budget cuts
Budget cuts up to 1 billion dollars are hovering over the FAA like a sword of Damocles, says the Aerospace Industries Association. The AIA published a report on the effect of the potential cuts this week in conjunction with Econsult Corporation.
The US deficit may force these cuts, called sequestration as soon as January.
"It will be by far the most devasting budget cut to the FAA in its 54 years," said former secretary of transportation, Norman Mineta. "The FAA is a critical safety organization that regulates our national air transporation system. Putting it at risk is folly beyond comparison."
In a statement to the press, the Aerospace Industries Association cites a letter from Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction in October 2011 saying sequestration could result in the closure of 246 airport control towers, and the loss of 1,500 air traffic controllers, 9,000 security screeners and 1,600 customs officers. The Association also says the cuts would delay the implementation of NextGen, the new air traffic control system currently scheduled for 2025. NextGen is poised to save 27 million hours in flight delays and reduce 216 metric tons of emissions.
The Econsult study, "Economic Impacts of FAA Budget Sequestration on the U.S. Economy," is available at www.secondtonone.org.
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