Some Airports To Lose ATC Service

Aug. 08--More than 100 U.S. airports, including Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International, are in jeopardy of losing their air traffic control service -- forcing their closure -- under automatic federal spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 2, according to a Center for American Progress study.

Under the potential across-the-board budget cuts, or sequestration, the Federal Aviation Administration would be required to slash an estimated $1.35 billion, or approximately 9 percent, from its annual budget for each of the next 10 years, starting in January, to reduce the nation's deficit, according to the study.

In order to decrease its expenditures, the administration may choose to restrict flights nationwide -- from 70,000 to 62,000 per year -- said Scott Lilly, a CAP senior writer and the author of the study.

However, Lilly said it is more likely the FAA will be forced to cut air traffic service at 106 of the nation's smaller commercial airports -- which he defined as less than 750,000 passengers per year -- including the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, Lehigh Valley International Airport and Harrisburg International Airport.

If the FAA chooses this cost-cutting measure, Lilly says the administration "essentially" would be closing 106 airports. The move would, however, limit the impact on passenger traffic, he added.

"We have 380 airports in the United States that have a commercial service," Lilly said. "Seventy percent of the annual passenger traffic comes from 29 airports, and another 25 percent comes from 70 airports.

"That means 181 of the airports -- including the 106 that would be closed -- make up just five percent of the annual passenger traffic."

As of now, sequestration remains just a possibility.

Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, signed into law by President Barack Obama, the Congressional Joint Select Committee of Deficit Reduction must develop a plan for an additional $1.5 trillion in savings over the next 10 years. If the plan is not approved by Congress in October, or does not reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion, the law will trigger the budget sequestration.

"I am confident that Republicans and Democrats will come together to avoid the adverse impact of substantial arbitrary cuts imposed by sequestration, reduce the deficit and keep the economy on track," U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said in a statement. "I have supported a trillion dollars in cuts and believe we need even more. But we need to take a balanced approach that keeps the economy growing and doesn't jeopardize our national security."

If triggered, the budget sequestration would target a $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions -- split between the non-defense and defense spending -- over a 10-year period.

In that case, most federal non-defense agencies, including the FAA, will face between an eight and 10 percent annual budget cut, Lilly said.

"If you cut $1.3 billion out of an agency like the FAA, there are going to be some real consequences," Lilly said. "Almost all of their money is spent on salaries and expenses --it would be a huge loss for the smaller airports."

Though the loss of 106 airports would be an inconvenience to travelers, it would be devastating to thousands of airport employees.

"It would have a tremendous ripple effect, not only on the local tourism industry, but also on the airport employees," Lilly said. "We're talking about the jobs of pilots, flight attendants, ground crews, airline mechanics, baggage handlers and that's just to name a few."

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Director Barry Centini could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The Center for American Progress is a independent educational institute "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action," according to their website.

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