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FAA May Shut 20 Air Traffic Weather Offices

Under plan, 2 forecast centers would serve entire country

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 5, 2009 7:22 AM CDT

(Newser) – The FAA may close 20 weather offices in air traffic control centers across the US, and instead connect all air traffic controllers to a pair of stations in Maryland and Missouri, the Washington Post reports. The money-saving plan would mean cutting controllers’ face-to-face contact with weather officials, something technology has eliminated the need for, says the FAA.

National Weather Service and air traffic control unions are up in arms about the idea. “This is a foolish plan that puts cost savings ahead of safety,” said an air traffic controllers’ rep. “Quite frankly, we cannot believe such a reckless idea has gotten this far.” An official says “no final decisions or commitments” have been made, and the plan would be subject to a 9-month evaluation.

Chicago's O'Hare International airport air traffic control  specialist David Borger, right, talks to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters  in the new control tower at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008. Alarm in the aviation industry over a projected 10 percent drop in domestic flights this winter didn't...
Chicago's O'Hare International airport air traffic control specialist David Borger, right, talks to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in the new control tower at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Thursday,...   (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
In this June 30, 2008, a controller watches over air traffic from the control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J.
In this June 30, 2008, a controller watches over air traffic from the control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
In this Aug. 12, 2002 file photo, Matt McCluskey directs air and runway traffic from the control tower at Logan International Airport in Boston.
In this Aug. 12, 2002 file photo, Matt McCluskey directs air and runway traffic from the control tower at Logan International Airport in Boston.   (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Robert_Dada
Jun 5, 2009 9:54 AM CDT
Thanks for posting this Hans. I was looking for a professional opinion on this to weed out the noise.
Reader65069154
Jun 5, 2009 3:41 AM CDT
It's high time government jobs started going away in light of the economy the way they are in the private sector, especially if they're "fat" like these appear to be. Does this count as Obama shrinking government?
Blackbird
Jun 5, 2009 1:32 AM CDT
As a professional pilot I am not bothered by this. With technology today we do not rely on weather information from the center. We can get everything in the cockpit electronically. In an emergency the controller can provide weather radar data, you don't have to be a forecaster to do that.

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