FAA Shutdown

[Graueradler]

FAA funding runs out at midnight tonight. It looks like congress has not been able to provide either a long term funding authorization or a 21st continuing resolution. Controllers and safety inspectors continue to work. All others are furloughed. All FAA funded construction projects grind to a halt.

Additional info from National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO)


FYI – more info on FAA status.


Greetings,

While Henry is on his way to Oshkosh, I participated in a call with FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Christa Fornartto and Deputy Associate Administrator Kate Lang regarding the possible FAA shutdown. Kate specifically asked the associations on the call to pass the following information on to our members.

It appears Congress is heading to an impasse that requires the shutdown of AIP, F&E, and Research. What to expect Monday morning:

Front Line Service
· The Office of Airports will close for all except essential safety personnel.
· ADO managers will be in the office Monday morning to supervise and orderly shutdown. Once that happens the ADO’s will be completely closed.
· Regionally – everyone is furloughed except safety work force related to Part 139.
· DC HQ – Only Christ, Kate, and Matt will be on deck and have very limited ability, basically they are there to turn the lights back on.
· Normal routine activities will NOT be performed during the furlough.

Emergencies
If you are anticipating an emergency or problem for next week or two you MUST contact the field office TODAY!

Grants
· FAA began shutting down grant action yesterday
· FAA working with handful of grants that have been extended to have them executed before shutdown.
· No new grant activity during shutdown.
· Payment received using automated ECHO system should continue as long as ECHO is functioning, but no guarantee.
· No manual payment
· If ECHO goes down associations will be advised so we can advise members.

Standup after Shutdown
How long it takes to restart after the shutdown depends on the length of the shutdown and the nature of the legislation, but as quickly as possible with the most critical first.

FY2011
FAA has posted a notice to the Federal Register expected to publish Wednesday, July 27 notifying airport sponsors they are to notify the ADO what they plan on doing with entitlements by either an application or carry over. That’s a little vague, we will watch for the notice. Bottom line – very important airport sponsors follow the instructions of the notice. FAA will be on very short timeline at the end of the year to obligate funds.

Please pass this on to your airports.

If you have questions, please call and I’ll do my best to answer.

And, as always we’ll keep you informed as we hear of developments.

Kathryn Solee
Director of Operations
National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO)
Reagan National Airport
Hangar 7, Suite 218
Washington, DC 20001
Direct: 703-417-1884
Fax: 703-417-1885
www.nasao.org
ksolee@nasao.org

 

[Jim Logajan]

Hmm, as someone who is currently waiting for the plastic certificate to be processed Real Soon Now I wonder how much longer I will be waiting.

The really ridiculous thing about this is squabbling over $15 million per year in rural air service subsidies has resulted in the end of the airline ticket excise taxes that bring in $200 million in revenue every *week*. So even if the shutdown ends after just one day the aviation transport trust fund will already have lost almost twice as much as the amount the political hissy fit is over. Sigh.

What I've read indicates that is a miss-characterization of the underlying dispute. Both sides seem to be pointing to a change in the rules (as passed by the Republican controlled house) for how unionization vote passage is to be determined. [As I understand it: It currently is majority of all votes cast; new rule as set out by house Republicans would change it to a majority of all eligible workers, with non-voting workers counted as "no" to unionization.] The Democratically controlled house and the administration are sufficiently opposed to this rule change to prefer shutdown of the FAA than allow that change to become law. The subsidy allocation changes appear to be a secondary political move. But despite the political posturing, there are genuine economic and political philosophies at odds here.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Interesting spin. It IS a bill to reauthorize the FAA, isn't it? I would say the "secondary" political move is to attach ridiculous unrelated riders.

That tactic has been going on probably since ancient Greece. Though rules regarding unionization of airline workers does put a different spin on things: for example, if a proposal to unionize is put before 100 workers and 2 workers vote for and 1 against while the other 97 abstain or unable to vote, all 100 are unionized. Previously 51 of those workers had to explicitly vote for unionization. But a NLRB ruling changed that. Since unions have historically donated more to one party than the other, it isn't surprising that hardball tactics are being employed by both sides. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/205200/