April 03--The Regional Mobility Authority reported on Thursday that it is still awaiting a decision from the Federal Aviation Administration on its application for the Federal Contract Tower Program, which would provide up to $550,000 in funding for the staffing of the control tower at the North Texas Regional Airport -- Perrin Field.
The RMA originally applied for the program, which pays for the cost of control towers for 249 airports across the country, when activity at the airport reached a cost-benefit ratio of 1.4. The FAA requires that an airport must meet a 1.0 ratio to be included in the program.
However, the sequester -- a series of automatic federal budget cuts -- at the end of 2012 reduced funding for the program and put the NTRA's acceptance into the program in jeopardy. The airport reapplied for the program in 2013 after the budget cuts were lifted. In its second application, the NTRA reported a cost-benefit ratio of 2.2.
If it is accepted into the program, the RMA will be able to hire an extra controller for the tower and a control tower manager for the tower, something that Airport Manager Mike Shahan said is a desperate need. Shahan estimated that, based on current staffing, the airport would save about $200,000 annually. Despite the urgent need, Shahan said there was no progress in the application. He urged the board to write letters to local representatives to address the issue.
"Basically, we need congressional action," said Shahan.
The board looked at potential ways to fund extra staffing until October, the earliest that the NTRA could join the program. Shahan estimated that adding four or five hours in additional overlap of staff from May until September would cost $26,000, which the NTRA is not budgeted for.
The board suggested the possibility of increasing the fuel flowage fee for the aviation school, which Shahan estimated represents half the traffic at the airport. Shahan said he was afraid that this would be detrimental to the airport because it might drive away current tenants. Other ideas included instituting a landing fee at the airport, which Shahan also said would likely drive away business from individuals and smaller businesses. Shahan said the county estimates that each student at the flight school puts approximately $80,000 into the local economy each year.
The board elected to send a letter to the Commissioners Court, asking for assistance in funding the extra staffing.
In other business, the board appointed Bill Hubbard and Jeff Christie to the Budget Committee to assist in preparing the budget before it it sent to the Commissioners Court later this year.
Copyright 2014 - Herald Democrat, Sherman, Texas
