Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would bring transparency to the air traffic control towers (ATCT) process replacement the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses.
The Air Traffic Control Tower Replacement Process Report Act would require the FAA to provide Congress with reports on the criteria, investigation and any other relevant considerations used in the ATCT selection process. This includes a timeline for the replacement of individual ATCT facilities; the parties involved in decision-making process; the criteria used in the selection process; information on investigations used in the selection process; and any additional information the administrator considers relevant
The FAA also will be required to maintain public lists of all ATCT facilities currently being replaced, ATCT facilities replaced within the previous 10-year period, and ATCT facilities being considered for replacement.
U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) introduced the bill.
“Our dedicated air traffic controllers help millions of travelers get to and from their destinations safely and efficiently every day, yet many are forced to work in substandard conditions inside deteriorating ATCTs,” Castor said. “As the FAA considers additional towers for replacement, made possible in part with investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we must have transparency in every step of the decision-making process to ensure this critical funding reaches facilities that need it most.”