Airport project halted

A partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration may have some impact on construction of a new air traffic control tower at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

Thousands of airport construction workers nationally were furloughed after Congress failed on Friday to agree on an extension of the agency's operating authority. The standoff resulted after House Republicans sought $16.5 million in cuts for air-service subsidies at 13 rural communities and Senate Democrats refused to go along with the reductions.

On Monday, the FAA identified work stoppages at seven major projects nationwide, including the $20 million new tower at the local airport.

"There could be a delay," airport director Barry Centini said. "I think the majority of the work is FAA work. The tower is pretty much done."

Construction of the eight-story tower got under way in December 2009 and was funded through the federal stimulus, known as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. It is expected to be operational next summer, Mr. Centini said.

According to The Associated Press, the FAA's operating authority expired at midnight Friday, forcing a partial shutdown of the agency. Dozens of airport construction projects across the country have been put on hold and thousands of federal employees were out of work.

Air traffic controllers have continued to work, as well as FAA employees who inspect the safety of planes and test pilots. Transportation officials have said safety won't be compromised. But it was unclear how long the FAA can continue day-to-day operations before travelers begin to feel the effects of the shutdown.

The shutdown is costing the FAA about $30 million a day in lost revenue because airlines no longer have authority to collect ticket taxes. That money goes into an aviation trust fund. The fund "has a healthy balance now, but that would be depleted in fairly rapid order" without congressional action, FAA

The $14.4 million project at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport started in 2010 and the new air traffic control tower was expected to be fully occupied in 2013.

Airport Director Clifton Moshoginis said the impact of the stoppage will depend on how long the delay is.

"We're kind of in a wait-and-see mode right now," Moshoginis said. " Hopefully this gets moving and gets resolved."

Other projects put on hold in Michigan include a new $11 million tower in Traverse City and a $1.9 million tower project in Flint.

Nearly 4,000 FAA personnel, many needed to oversee parts of the construction projects, were furloughed Saturday.

The FAA's ability to collect and spend the taxes that support the nation's aviation system expired at midnight Friday. Lawmakers are fighting over whether to cut subsidies to airlines that serve small communities.

The GOP-controlled House blamed the Democratic-controlled Senate.

"It is astounding that the Senate is willing to throw the FAA into chaos in order to protect huge subsidies for a handful of passengers unwilling to drive 90 miles or less to a hub airport," Rep. Tom Petri, the Wisconsin Republican who heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's aviation panel, said Friday.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said Republicans had "turned the aviation system into a political prop" after months of good-faith negotiations.