Over the last couple years, there have been a number of problems with the economy throughout the United States. With all of the financial woes and our debt ceiling crushing down on us, a number of people have tried to find ways to correct this uncorrectable situation we see ourselves in. More recently, we have seen the word "sequestration" being thrown around. To be honest, before everything really hit the fan, I probably couldn't have defined the word. Now, it seems like every can, or knows some sort of definition variation on the topic.
Sequestration is described as the "practice of using mandatory spending cuts in the federal budget if the cost of running the government exceeds either an arbitrary amount or the the gross revenue it brings during the fiscal year." (Murse) Basically, what it boils down to is that money can and will be saved by any means necessary, whether it be through mandatory furloughs of employees or cuts in government programs.
Originally, the idea of sequestration was, just that, an idea. Sequestration was proposed as an incentive for the government to act on the problem and come up with some sort of solution, ultimately an agreement, that would prevent the need for sequestration. According to President Obama, the sequestration can be halted, but it is the responsibility of the Senate to come to terms on a compromise. (Spetalnick, 2013)
This could potentially have a huge impact on a number of government-funded projects and grants, including those related to the aviation community. The FAA currently has some of the most cutting edge programs in the world on the table and those are now being threatened. NexGen, the top of the line air traffic management system is now being put on the back burner, where over the past year it has been a top priority installation. Funds have been slashed so that repairs to navigational aids are done only when deemed necessary. In addition to this, the FAA has been forced to furlough employees, just as other agencies have had to do.
Another one of the most notable impacts that is already being noted is the closing of numerous air traffic control towers across the United States. There are 173 towers, located in small- and medium-sized airports, that will now become unmanned. (Bennett, 2013) While these control tower cuts do not eliminate FAA-held jobs, as a majority of these are run by contract, the concern is the safety around the towers for incoming and outgoing traffic. While pilots do train for unmanned towers, the concern is that those medium-sized airports that have a heavy traffic flow may be at risk for more incidents both on the ground and in the air.
The sequestration currently in place affects all angles of aviation, whether it be commercial airlines or the guy who is taking private lessons. Ultimately, you have to look at the safety aspect of what the cuts are forcing the FAA to do. As the sequestration presses on without some sort of proposition that can be agreed upon, I believe the aviation community will continue to see cuts. Programs like NexGen that have been made to improve efficiency, safety, and air traffic management will suffer, which in turn will cost airlines money. Airports that do not get the funding necessary to maintain their runways or facilities or that are denied funds to develop and expand airports through procurement of surrounding land will suffer and, in turn, economies surrounding those airports can suffer. General Aviation will only see a fraction of the hit on the aviation community, but see that affect nonetheless.
Bennett, D. (6 March, 2013). FAA to close air traffic control towers due to sequester. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/03/faa-close-air-traffic-control-towers-sequester/62802/
Murse, T. What is sequestration?. Retrieved from: http://uspolitics.about.com/od/thefederalbudget/a/What-Is-Sequestration.htm
Namowitz, D. (27 February, 2013). Top officials offer glimpse of a post-sequester FAA. Retrieved from: http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2013/130227top-officials-offer-glimpse-post-sequester.html
Spetalnick, M. (2 March, 2013). Obama: sequestration crisis will 'inflict pain,' congress should help with compromise. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/02/obama-sequestration-_n_2795749.html
Sequestration is no doubt a huge setback for next-gen. But the sequester creates tons of immediate problems within the workforce with layoffs and furloughs.I think the biggest concern for myself are the unsafe practices the sequestration is creating. Just another set back for aviation
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