Sun, Dec 21, 2008
Most Air Traffic Control Buildings Have Exceeded Their Planned
Useful Life
A report requested by Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-MN and chairman of
the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was
released Wednesday by the Transportation Department's Inspector
General's office, painting a grim assessment of the physical
condition of the nation's air traffic control facilities.
Common problems include control tower windows that fog up with
condensation, ceilings that drip, and buildings that have far
exceeded their planned useful life. "It is important to note that
the maintenance issues we observed did not impact the safe
operations at the facilities we visited," the report said.
Of the 420 Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control
centers, 59 percent are over 30 years old, and 15 facilities are
over 50 years old. The expected useful life of the buildings is a
modest 25 to 30 years.
The report determined many of the problems stemmed from a
previous FAA policy of requiring local offices to budget
maintenance dollars. More often than not, maintenance spending was
limited to the funds left over at year's end, the Associated Press
reported.
In 2004, the FAA centralized maintenance planning, but currently
has a $240 million backlog of needed projects, a figure expected to
balloon to over $380 million by 2020.
The FAA agreed with the report's conclusions, adding that it is
currently working to address many of the problems outlined
therein.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association spokesman Doug
Church said
facility improvements would be welcomed. "This
has been one of our top concerns for the last several years as
we've seen our workplaces deteriorate in major cities and
not-so-major cities around the country."
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]