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DOT’s OIG To Audit
The FAA’s By Shane Nolan |
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In
1982, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began a
pilot program to contract for air traffic control
services at five low-activity, level 1 control towers.
From 1998 to 2003, OIG conducted audits evaluating the
Contract Tower Program.
OIG’s previous audits of the program have found that the program has successfully provided safe, low-cost air traffic services to users and that the quality of those services was comparable to the FAA operated towers. |
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Congress recognized this in its report accompanying its Fiscal Year 2011 Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill but noted that continued funding for the program warrants another more recent review.
In fiscal
year 1993, the FAA estimated that converting former level 1
towers to contract towers would result in annual savings of
about $200,000 per tower, or about $20 million annually. Prior
to 1998, the FAA categorized all towers as levels 1 through 5,
with level 1 towers having the lowest number of operations.
Over the
years Congress has provided funding for a multi-year program to
convert additional the FAA-operated low-activity towers to
contract operations and institute a cost-sharing program with
local communities. Currently, there are 247 contract towers in
46 states operated by 3 contractors.
OIG’s audit objective will be to review the Contract Tower
Program to evaluate whether the program continues to have
cost effectiveness, safety benefits, and overall value to
users. OIG will begin the audit this month at the FAA
Headquarters and will include site visits to Air Traffic
Organization regional service centers and low-activity.
The world's highest control tower is Vancouver Harbour Control Tower, situated on top of the 142 meter skyscraper |
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