Rep. Ciscomani Questions FAA Admin on PFAS, Airport Towers, and Air Traffic Controller Staffing

PFAS Remediation Efforts

• ✈️ Rep. Juan Ciscomani questioned Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau about the ongoing effort to eliminate PFAS from airports, highlighting it as a major public health threat.
• 💡 The FAA previously mandated PFAS-containing foams, and while airports are transitioning, they remain burdened by the cost of remediation for previously used foams.
• 🤝 The FAA is in ongoing dialogue with airports like Tucson International to manage PFAS mitigation, with appropriations being critical for moving forward.

Panel Air Park Air Traffic Control Tower

• 📍 Ciscomani highlighted Panel Air Park, a busy multi-use airport in his district operating without an air traffic control tower.
• ✅ The FAA reauthorization bill prioritizes towers for multi-use airports, and Panel Air Park has been accepted as a candidate for the FAA contract tower program.
• 🤝 The FAA administrator committed to fully considering Panel Air Park for a new tower under the program.

Air Traffic Control Tower Staffing

• 🧑‍✈️ The discussion addressed air traffic control tower staffing levels across the country.
• 🎯 The FAA is working to reach 2,500 controllers through training programs and incentivizing new hires.
• 💰 Financial incentives are being offered to encourage controllers to come to the FAA and to staff tougher-to-staff locations.
• ⏳ Experienced controllers are being incentivized to stay on, with a 20% annual bonus, to help bridge the gap while new staff are trained.
• 📉 The FAA aims to recover approximately 3,000 controllers within the next couple of years.

Reasons for Controller Shortage

• 📢 The FAA is improving advertising and outreach to highlight the rewarding nature of a career in air traffic control.
• ⏱️ The process for getting individuals into the FAA academy has been truncated to reduce wait times and attract younger candidates.