On Friday afternoon, the Department of Transportation began notifying congressional offices that the FAA will continue funding through September for the 149 contract towers slated to lose funding on June 15, 2013. Shortly thereafter, the airports received an email from FAA to confirm. The TFG-managed General Aviation Airport Coalition was part of an all-hands-on-deck lobby effort that resulted in widespread congressional support and a bill signed into law to allow FAA the flexibility to shift funds around to pay for the towers. The contract tower program was originally slated to receive an approximate 75% cut from the sequester – not 5% like most other programs. These towers and the general aviation airports they serve have a reprieve for now. Funding for FY 2014 is the next battle, but we’ll enjoy the news for a few days!
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