National Air Traffic Controllers Association Executive
Vice President Trish Gilbert affirmed the organization’s
support for parts of the Federal Contract Tower (FCT)
Program, but also discussed NATCA’s concerns before the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on
Aviation today. Gilbert explained that NATCA
supports the cost-share component of the FCT Program as
well as its allowance for building a new tower where one
does not already exist. NATCA does not support the
expansion of the program to existing Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) towers by converting or
transferring current towers.
There is a dangerous lack of FAA oversight at many of
these towers and NATCA is concerned that the FCT Program
is pushing the outer limit of the responsible margin of
safety with bare bones staffing and inadequate support
for essential equipment. “NATCA represents
air traffic controllers at 63 contract towers, and we
are proud of the stellar work they do,” said Gilbert.
“We offer recommendations for improvement because
contract towers need to provide a better working
environment for the controllers who staff them.”
NATCA has made five recommendations for contract tower
improvement, including that contract towers should be
held to the same staffing standards as FAA towers and
that contract towers should model the FAA’s safety
culture in allowing controllers to report incidents
without fear of punitive retaliation. Other highlights
from Gilbert’s testimony:
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“There is a fundamental difference between an FAA tower
and a contract tower. The FAA model was built on the
premise of redundancy to prioritize safety above all,
whereas a contract tower has incentive to prioritize the
bottom line. NATCA is not criticizing the fact that
profit margins are a factor, but we must keep this
reality in mind. In addition to the different
motivations, there exists a stark difference between a
contract tower and a FAA tower’s support systems,
including equipment and facility maintenance and
staffing.”
-“It is NATCA’s position that there is a fundamental
flaw in comparing contract towers to FAA towers in terms
of safety as defined by operational errors. The flaw in
any comparison derives from the fact that errors are
unevenly reported – the FAA has a true safety culture,
where all controllers and employees are encouraged to
report all safety issues, including errors, while
contract towers are dictated by a punitive culture that
discourages controllers and their supervisors from
reporting errors.”
-“NATCA understands that neither the FAA nor Congress is
currently discussing expansion of the Federal Contract
Tower program. Again, for the record, NATCA is opposed
to expanding the contract tower program. Contract towers
have their place, but under the current system they push
the responsible limit of the margin of safety with short
staffing, unreliable equipment, and a lack of technical
support for the equipment. As a result of understaffing,
controllers are required to tend to administrative
duties while on position, as well as the responsibility
for on-the-spot maintenance of any equipment
malfunctions. These distractions mean that contract
towers are approaching the outer limit of the margin of
safety.”
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