Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

The FAA released <a href="http://www.faa.gov/news/media/Contract_Tower_Closure_Guidance.pdf">guidance</a> yesterday to the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2013-03-22/faa-149-airport-towers-close">149 airports whose contract towers are scheduled to close</a> as a result of budget cuts that outlines the shutdown schedule and addresses what will happen to the tower structures and equipment. It also emphasizes that these towers could continue to operate with local funding, a measure to which <a href="http://www.faa.gov/news/media/fct_cost_share.pdf">16 airports</a> that were on the potential closure list have already committed.


According to the guidance, on April 7 the agency “will begin to cease funding for [the affected] 149 contract control towers in <a href="http://www.faa.gov/news/media/List_of_149_FCTs_with_Date_Funding_Ceases.pdf">three phases</a>,” with funds stopping for the lowest traffic facilities in the first phase and for the busier ones in the last phase. As such, federal funding will be cut off on April 7 for 24 contract towers, on April 21 for another 46 and on May 5 for the remaining 79.


Though federal funding will end, the FAA has left the door wide open for airport operators to fund the towers locally. “The airport operator has a choice: to operate as a non-towered airport…[or] to continue providing tower services as a non-federal control tower,” the FAA said. “[We are] prepared to discuss the continued use of buildings and equipment with airports for those who desire to continue providing tower services.”


But for those airport operators who opt to go non-towered, the FAA will begin disconnecting and removing equipment at these towers within 90 days after federal funding ends.

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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