Just three days into the federal government shutdown, GA advocacy groups are stepping up their protests to the action. NATCA issued a statement on Monday noting that this is the third government shutdown this year. “The air traffic controllers and traffic management coordinators that NATCA represents remain on the job, dedicated to the safety of every flight, but they don’t know when they will receive their next paycheck,” NATCA said. And while controllers are working without pay, many others who support the system are furloughed—staff who provide tactical, strategic and administrative support at towers; engineers who certify aircraft and design navigation aids; test pilots; and more. “The FAA requires a stable, predictable funding stream,” NATCA said, for, sadly, about the 10,000th time.
While the FAA Registry in Oklahoma City has been deemed essential and willremain open during the shutdown, many other services will be unavailable. A few that were listed by NBAA include the issuance of airman certificates; approval of exemptions for drone operations; aviation rulemaking; and the development, testing and evaluation of NextGen technologies. Operators should check ahead with customs checkpoints, especially if they plan to arrive outside of normal business hours. All workers, whether furloughed or on duty, will be paid their back pay when the shutdown ends.
