Congress, Mayors Implore FAA To Save Towers

Congressional and local lawmakers have called on the FAA to use newly available funds to stave off the June 15 closure of 149 contract towers under budget sequestration. Signed into law last week, the “Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013” allows the FAA to reallocate unassigned funds from the Airport Improvement Program to end FAA employee furloughs and keep the national airspace system functioning smoothly through the end of Fiscal Year 2013. Tower proponents assert the measure also includes the funds needed to preserve the contract towers.