BZN and IWA getting annexed into the FAA

[Bandit117]

Press release came out the 18th

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/new-faa-program-moves-strengthen-controller-pipeline-standardize-training

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a pilot program to transition select high-activity federal contract towers, which are staffed by private-sector employees operating under FAA safety standards, to FAA-owned towers. Direct FAA oversight will standardize training and strengthen the controller workforce pipeline while preserving safety in complex airspace.

The first two candidate towers selected for the pilot program are Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana and Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. Qualified contract tower controllers will transition with their facility to an FAA trained and operated tower.

“This is another step the Trump Administration is taking to add qualified air traffic controllers to our workforce and ensure the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “As air traffic demand continues to grow, this program will help ensure the FAA has the experienced workforce needed to manage complex operations at these towers.”

The initiative, required by Section 625 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, will assess the feasibility, benefits, and challenges associated with converting high-activity towers to FAA staffing and management. To ensure safety and operational continuity, the FAA is rolling out this pilot program in a phased approach.

Within six months of operational transition for candidate towers that successfully complete the pilot program, the FAA will complete a congressionally mandated Safety Analysis Report, outlining findings and insights from the conversion process.

The FAA estimates it will take 29 to 44 months to successfully complete the pilot program. Findings from the pilot program will help inform future decisions about expanding the effort.

 

[Hal9000]

I had a random DAL pilot start chatting to me (PHX) about how effing horrified he was to fly into BZN given the staffing woes and ATC-0 up there. Odd that the FAA is super cool with FCTs pushing well over a million airline pax a year when the explicit intent of the program was to never be in places with more than 100k airline pax/year. Maybe they can go through a cut staffing targets at those FCTs, too!

Meanwhile, there was this insane OIG report about the FAA's FCT program and then the FAA was happy enough with that to immediately say they are going to start poaching FCT bodies. (Keeping in mind again that there are FCTs running over a million airline passengers allotted a total of 5 breathing humans for the entire year.) It all gives real end-of-empire vibes.

 

[AB19]

Everyone in the other thread saying how they need to contract out the level 6s and below and here they are picking up bozeman which does what, 120k ops a year?

 

[+TSRA]

For every 1 the FAA takes in, it will give up 2. The 2 the FAA give up, the staff can go to the 1 or see ya!

 

[32andBelow]

Everyone in the other thread saying how they need to contract out the level 6s and below and here they are picking up bozeman which does what, 120k ops a year?

There’s probably FAA towers that should be contracted and contract towers that should be brought in. The theme is that every facility in the NAS should be treated independently and get the support/staffing changes/upgrades that they need. Only changing things in NAS wide applications is insanity.

 

[Bandit117]

Everyone in the other thread saying how they need to contract out the level 6s and below and here they are picking up bozeman which does what, 120k ops a year?

Bozeman is the busiest airport in Montana, I think it’s a function of shame. The faa runs Helena, great falls and billings but not Bozeman.

 

[pedaNTIc]

Doesn’t hurt that the NASA Administrator lives and flies there

 

[MJ]

add qualified air traffic controllers to our workforce

 

[DOD4Life]

We all joke, but your simple equation is applicable to like 99% of the bullshit we all have to put up with in this job.

 

[32andBelow]

Will they force out all the people that are too old lol

 

[SunnyATC]

Bedford was CEO of three regional airlines so he could whipsaw them against each other in contract negotiations. Don’t think he is doing this for safety reasons.

 

[32andBelow]

Bedford was CEO of three regional airlines so he could whipsaw them against each other in contract negotiations. Don’t think he is doing this for safety reasons.

The major airline whipsaws the regionals against each other.

 

[CinderBlock]

Doesn’t hurt that the NASA Administrator lives and flies there

It’s where he keeps the Polaris planes but he lives in PA by ABE. For what it’s worth he’s actually a pretty cool guy.

 

[Bandit117]

Will they force out all the people that are too old lol

That would be a very interesting point. I know patco rehires were exempted from the 56 if they managed to get back in. I suppose they could make a waver for any current contract employees and age limits if they get absorbed

 

[SunnyATC]

Don’t think they are not trying to gain leverage from this. Look, these contract towers have been working for less and don’t have a mandatory retirement age for decades. Why do we need all these low level FAA towers when the contractors will do it for less. Bedford is a snake.

 

[planetalkerkp]

Am I missing something? Isn't creating more FAA manning requirements going to exacerbate the current manning crisis?

 

[Aileron]

inb4 they make some level 4s and 5s contract

 

[NightWatch]

Everyone in the other thread saying how they need to contract out the level 6s and below and here they are picking up bozeman which does what, 120k ops a year?

The FAA can’t even staff the facilities it has, you think it needs more? Isn’t staffing one of the reasons why you quit and moved to Australia? I don’t blame you at all for that btw I’m just saying I’d be fine with more facilities if the FAA actually knew how to manage a workforce

inb4 they make some level 4s and 5s contract

Why shouldn’t they? If most 4s and 5s went away all together (for the sake of argument) that would have zero impact on the flying public. Why not give them to a contractor who can manage those service delivery points better and with less assets/resources and then relocate the FAA controllers as this happens?

 

[AB19]

The FAA can’t even staff the facilities it has, you think it needs more? Isn’t staffing one of the reasons why you quit and moved to Australia? I don’t blame you at all for that btw I’m just saying I’d be fine with more facilities if the FAA actually knew how to manage a workforce

I don't think the FAA needs more facilities. But this post was just comedic timing with what people were saying in another thread. It's clear that the administration is completely fucking staffing with these new numbers I've seen at places. I mostly left because the work life balance here is way better, I'm compensated way better than I would have been in the FAA to work way less traffic and work less hours. But I'll lie and say I left because the equipment is better because I know that's what natca thinks we care about

 

[NightWatch]

I don't think the FAA needs more facilities. But this post was just comedic timing with what people were saying in another thread. It's clear that the administration is completely fucking staffing with these new numbers I've seen at places. I mostly left because the work life balance here is way better, I'm compensated way better than I would have been in the FAA to work way less traffic and work less hours. But I'll lie and say I left because the equipment is better because I know that's what natca thinks we care about

I can abide that, the equipment part was the LOL I needed today. Hope all is well over there also.