About 2,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees in metro Atlanta are being told they will have to take as many as 11 unpaid days off in coming months because of automatic federal budget cuts.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta notified FAA employees that the furlough days will occur from April 7 through Sept. 30, adding, “We will continue to explore ways to reduce expenditures and minimize the number of total furlough days required…”
The FAA has major control centers in metro Atlanta, as well as a regional office and employees at airports.
So far, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has reported no abnormally long security lines or flight delays as a result of the budget cuts known as sequestration, since the FAA furloughs aren’t set to begin until next month.
But Customs officials say they have cut back on overtime around the country, which could affect wait times for arriving international fliers.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cited Hartsfield-Jackson and other airports as already seeing effects with long lines, according to reports, despite Hartsfield-Jackson’s business-as-usual stance.
Meanwhile, three metro airports have received notices that their control towers could close.
Cobb County’s McCollum Field, Gwinnett County’s Briscoe Field and Fulton County’s Charlie Brown Field were warned last month that their towers could close — though the airports can continue to operate, as many airports operate without control towers.
This week, the American Association of Airport Executives said the FAA is set to close 173 air traffic control towers on April and airports have received notices on the plans.
But the FAA has not made a final decision on the tower closures, and will consider requests to keep towers open if closing them would have a “negative impact on the national interest,” according to the association. Final decisions are set for March 18.
McCollum Field and Briscoe Field say they are evaluating their options.
“I’m hopeful it’s reversed” said McCollum Field airport manager Karl Von Hagel.
Charlie Brown Field airport manager Doug Barrett said he will ask the FAA to consider keeping the tower open.
“You’ve got major tenants out here that are worldwide in their operations,” Barrett said. Companies including Coca-Cola Co. and Home Depot operate at Charlie Brown Field.
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