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PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR


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Contract tower program cut in Bush's proposed budget

posted 03/09/2006
The Port of Friday Harbor may not be able to join the FAA's contract tower program even if Friday Harbor airport meets the criteria. President George W. Bush has eliminated funding for the program which provides air traffic controllers for 45 percent of the airports in the U.S. in his proposed budget.

Pat Mayo, Friday Harbor Airport manager, contacted the FAA about joining the program after safety concerns about near misses at the airport.

Near miss at Friday Harbor Airport raises safety concerns

posted 1/12/2006
Last Tuesday, Friday Harbor Airport Manager Pat Mayo knew a Citation jet was about to land at Friday Harbor airport when he saw another aircraft prepare to take off from the same runway. "I told him on the mike to get off the runway now. He didn't hear me," Mayo said. "I told the Citation to abort its landing. One of these days we are going to have a major fatality up there."

Mayo suggested the Port of Friday Harbor Commissioners consider joining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Contract Tower Program. The airport has a tower which was built during WWII. If the FAA decides the port qualifies the tower would be staffed by traffic controllers.

Commissioner Greg Hertel asked if the program could be used during only the busiest months of the year. Mayo said he was told it could be done that way.

According to the FAA Web site as of April 2005: FAA's Contract Tower Program, which began in 1982, has a proven track record. It provides for FAA to contract air traffic control (ATC) services to the private sector at visual flight rule (VFR) airports. The primary advantages of this program are enhanced safety, improved ATC services and significant VFR ATC cost savings to FAA. Currently, 226 smaller airports in participate in the program, representing 45 percent of all control towers in the U.S.

Mayo will contact the FAA and will report back to the commissioners. More information about the program is available at contracttower.org.

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