Bipartisan legislation has been introduced to bring transparency to the process by which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selects air traffic control towers (ATCT) for replacement.
The Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement Process Report Act will require the FAA to provide Congress with reports on the criteria, investigation and any additional relevant considerations used in the selection process.
“Our dedicated air traffic controllers help millions of travellers get to and from their destinations safely and efficiently every day, yet many are forced to work in substandard conditions inside deteriorating ATCTs, said Representative Kathy Castor. “I’m thankful the aging control tower at Tampa International Airport, in my hometown, is set to be replaced after years of hard bipartisan work. As the FAA considers additional towers for replacement, made possible in part with investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we must have transparency in every step of the decision-making process to ensure this critical funding reaches facilities that need it most.”
Specifically, the Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement Process Report Act will require the FAA to inform Congress about:
- All parties involved in decision-making
- Criteria used in the selection process
- Information on investigations used in the selection process
- A timeline for the replacement of an individual ATCT facility
- Any additional information the Administrator considers relevant
Additionally, the FAA will be required to maintain public lists of all: ATCT facilities replaced within the previous ten-year period, ATCT facilities currently being replaced, and ATCT facilities being considered for replacement.
Image: Tampa International Airport
