Rep. Takano Sends Letter to FAA Administrator To Keep Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower Open and Operating

In the letter, Rep. Takano details the numerous safety concerns that closing the Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower would pose, as well as the effect its closure would have on the local economy.

 

As a result of sequestration, the FAA was forced to cut between five and eight percent of its budget. Instead of making the cut equally across all programs, the FAA decided to cut 75 percent of the Contract Tower Program and potentially close as many as 173 control towers.

 

Full letter below:

 

 

The Honorable Michael Huerta

Administrator

Federal Aviation Administration

800 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20591

 

Dear Administrator Huerta:

 

            It is my understanding that, under sequestration, the FAA must cut between five and eight percent of its budget. However, instead of making this cut equally across all programs, the FAA decided to cut 75 percent of the Contract Tower Program, resulting in the furlough of the majority of its 47,000 air traffic controllers and the likely closure of as many as 173 control towers. While I recognize that difficult decisions must be made, I encourage you to reconsider the way in which the FAA implements these cuts, and urge you to keep the Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower, located in my district, open and operating.

           

            For a number of reasons, the Riverside control tower is critical to air safety in Riverside County. The Riverside area conducts nearly 80,000 flying operations each year and has four active flight schools. Additionally, the Riverside Airport is only 12 miles away from March Air Reserve Base, which is home to multiple flying missions and aircraft. At the same time, several arrival routes into Los Angeles International Airport fly over Riverside. Furthermore, the start of the California Baptist University’s new flight training program will only increase the amount of air traffic in the area. The close proximity of military air operations, flight training activities, and commercial flights increases the likelihood that air space will be shared and poses a serious safety hazard. That is why the continued operation of the Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower is so important.

 

            The closure of the Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower would also have a negative impact on jobs and the economy in my district. Already, Riverside County’s unemployment rate stands far above the national average at more than 11 percent. In addition, 80 percent of controllers in the Riverside control tower are veterans. My constituents, especially those who have risked their lives to protect this country, do not deserve to bear the burden of the sequester. They need more jobs, not fewer.

 

            Again, I ask you to reconsider the way in which the FAA has decided to implement the cuts from the sequester, and urge you to keep the Riverside Air Traffic Control Tower open and operating. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

MARK TAKANO

Member of Congress