BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY, DELAURO SEND LETTER TO FAA EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT PLANNED CLOSURE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS AT TWEED-NEW HAVEN AIRPORT AND FIVE OTHERS ACROSS CONNECTICUT
(Hartford)– Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy(D-CT), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) sent a letter to the FederalAviation Administration (FAA) expressing deep concern about the planned closureof the air traffic control towers at Tweed-New Haven Airport and five othersacross the state. A copy of the letter can be found here. The text of the letter is below.
March 8, 2013
The Honorable Michael Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Administrator Huerta:
We write to express our deep concern about the slated closure of the airtraffic control tower at Tweed-New Haven along with 5 additional generalaviation control towers throughout the State of Connecticut. As you are wellaware, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday announced the likelyclosure of 173 air traffic control towers around the nation on April 7, 2013.While we understand the extraordinary funding situation the FAA is in as aresult of the sequester, we strongly believe that these closures will put atrisk public safety in and around the airspace of Connecticut and the localeconomies that rely on these facilitates for tax revenue and jobs.
In particular, we urge you to reconsider immediately the closure of the towerat Tweed-New Haven. We believe that public health could be at significant riskshould this tower close. The Tweed tower services Yale-New Haven Hospital, notjust for organ donation flights, but also for the Hospital's helipad. We havebeen told by local officials that the "Life Star" flights to and fromthis helipad for medical emergencies could be affected if the tower were toclose. Tweed also has a relationship with a number of not-for-profit organizationsthat fly injured veterans from around the country to the nearby West HavenVeterans Affairs facility for treatment. Moreover, the Tweed tower is afilter for air traffic going into and out of New York's airports as it servicesthe airspace—some of the busiest in the nation—in Long Island Sound and lowerConnecticut. And Tweed is the only airport in New England with commercialservice that is on the list of FAA closures.
We are also troubled by what the possible tower closure means for the importantUS Airways routes that service the airport. After years of negotiations andcommunity involvement, US Airways now operates 4 daily flights between NewHaven and Philadelphia International Airport. The airport, the city, and theregion depend on this access for economic growth, including approximately 120direct jobs. Any potential loss of this service would be devastating to the NewHaven region and community as it strives to add jobs and grow its tax base.
Over the years, the FAA has invested heavily in the Tweed Airport with grantstotaling over $70 million for improvements throughout the airport. DuringHurricane Sandy, when the Sikorsky and Groton/New London airports wereunderwater, Tweed went unscathed and was able to accept air traffic divertedfrom other airports. And according to the FAA's New England Regional AirportSystem Plan, which is considered to be a blueprint for passenger serviceairports in the Northeast, Tweed is 1 of 11 airports targeted for additionalimprovements to meet regional demand and avoid building an additional airport.
In short, Tweed is a major economic engine and public safety asset for the Cityof New Haven and the region. We should not put safety, jobs, or vitalcommercial air service at the Tweed airport at risk.
We understand you will be making a final decision about which towers to closeby March 18th. We strongly urge you to reconsider your current position toclose the tower at Tweed-New Haven and at other airports in the state. We lookforward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Rosa L. DeLauro
Member of Congress
Richard Blumenthal
United States Senate
Christopher S. Murphy
United States Senate