FAA Misses Opportunities To Discontinue or Reduce Operating Hours of Some Airport Traffic Control Towers
CED-81-100
Published: Jun 01, 1981. Publicly Released: Jun 01, 1981.
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Highlights
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not taken effective action to discontinue economically unjustified airport traffic control towers or to reduce the operating hours of control towers which meet the criteria for reduced operations. GAO reviewed these actions in the interest of identifying ways in which economies could be achieved by FAA in providing air traffic control services to the Nation.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected Sort descending | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should require the Administrator of the FAA to document and clearly justify the decisions made as a result of the staff studies. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should require the Administrator of the FAA to establish time limits for completing required staff studies to determine whether candidates can be safely and efficiently part-timed. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should require the Administrator of FAA to identify control tower candidates for discontinuance by adopting uniform criteria which require (1) an economic analysis based on up-to-date benefits and costs and (2) consideration of noneconomic factors, such as topography or the frequent occurrence of severe weather at each airport. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should require the Administrator of the FAA to institute procedures to ensure that the criteria are applied periodically and that discontinuance of candidate towers is actively pursued. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should require the Administrator of the FAA to survey activity levels of 24-hour control towers to identify candidates for reduced operating hours. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Air traffic control systemsAir traffic controllersAirportsCost controlEconomic analysisStaff utilizationAviationAircraftCost analysisAccidents