AAAE Calls on FAA to More Strategically Manage Controller Furloughs

Alexandria, VA, 2013-04-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — AAAE Gov President Todd Hauptli issued the following statement today on behalf of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) in response to the wide-scale furloughing of air traffic controllers by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a result of sequestration and across-the-board budget cuts:

“Sequestration was avoidable and so are the consequences associated with the FAA’s decision to uniformly furlough air traffic controllers at the nation’s busiest airports. If the agency is truly committed to its stated goal of managing the sequestration in a fashion that minimizes the impact on the largest number of travelers, furloughing controllers at the busiest airports would have been an act of last resort, not part of an opening volley in what is an admittedly difficult management dilemma. We urge FAA to re-evaluate its current plans and ensure that aviation system safety and efficiency are the highest priorities as the agency manages the difficult choices resulting from sequestration.”

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ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world’s largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE’s 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.

CONTACT:

Joel D. Bacon
Vice President, Airport Legislative Alliance
(703) 824-0500, Ext. 154
Joel.bacon@aaae.org

Gwen Basaria
Director, Legislative and Regulatory Communications
(703) 824-0500, Ext. 187
Gwen.Basaria@aaae.org
@AAAEDelivers