AIN Blog: Satas Could be Cost Effective Alternative to Manned Towers

When the FAA was looking for ways to slash expenditures by more than $600 million in Fiscal Year 2013 as part of “sequestration” cuts mandated by the U.S. Congress last spring, part of the plans was a shutdown of 149 low-activity contract control towers. After an outcry from nearly a dozen aviation organizations, the FAA scrapped that proposal after Congress gave the agency the flexibility to move $253 million in unobligated funds from the Airport Improvement Program to the operations account. Without that action, the towers were scheduled to close by June 15, a date set after the FAA abandoned an earlier plan for phased closings in April and May.