April 05--The Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday unanimously approved funding to pay for the control tower operation at Brownsville South Padre International Airport and 13 other airports in Texas facing a loss of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration because of sequestration.
On March 22, the FAA announced that Brownsville would be among 149 "contract tower" airports nationwide to lose federal funding for air traffic controllers' salaries. Although they're paid with FAA funds, contract tower controllers are not FAA employees but rather work for private companies that contract with the FAA.
After the FAA announcement, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation offered to pay 50 percent of controllers' contracts -- $44,000 to $50,000 a month -- through the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The expectation was that city commissioners would agree to cover the remaining 50 percent.
On March 28, the Texas Department of Transportation announced it would not allow the state's 14 contract-tower airports to close due to lack of funding, and TxDOT pledged funds to keep them open for 90 days contingent upon transportation commission approval, which came Thursday.
"Safety is our top priority, and I am glad we're able to keep these critical air traffic control services operating," Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood said.
On Tuesday, the City Commission approved a contract with Robinson Aviation Inc. to provide a portion of controllers' salaries to keep
the Brownsville tower operating and the airport open.
Larry Brown, aviation director for the Brownsville airport, said dozens of airport executives from the state's affected airports appeared before the transportation commission in Austin on Thursday to express support for efforts to "get us some additional time" until a longer term solution can be found.
TxDOT is providing roughly $2 million to Brownsville and the other 13 airports for 90 days. The cuts in FAA funding were to be phased in beginning April 7. Brown said TxDOT will provide half the money needed to keep the tower operating for 90 days, with GBIC and the city splitting the remaining cost.
Brown noted that, in addition to controllers' salaries, the FAA will expect Brownsville and the other airports to pay to lease the towers and equipment, which are owned by the FAA. The next step is to craft a long-term solution, including how the airport can raise revenue to maintain tower operations for a long period of time, he said.
A central question is how long sequestration will drag on, Brown said.
"Is this going to last into the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1? I guarantee there is legislation being drafted and introduced that would continue the FAA's involvement in funding those towers," Browns said. "Airports all over the country are affected. Will that bill make its way through the Senate and the House and assure funding for the next fiscal year?"
Copyright 2013 - The Brownsville Herald, Texas
