Air Traffic Services and Technology

Air Traffic Services Brief: Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities

AOPA Wants Public Process on Tracon Consolidations

The issue

AOPA has requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hold public meetings and solicit pilot input on its efforts to consolidate a handful of terminal radar approach control (Tracon) facilities in the next few years. AOPA believes that the FAA needs to hear directly from local pilots about what potential impact the consolidations could have on operations. Further, the FAA should not undertake consolidation if there are negative impacts on safety and operational efficiency.

In July 2007 the FAA consolidated Palm Springs (PSP) Tracon into Southern California Tracon (SCT).  In April 2008 the Beaumont/Southeast Texas (BMT) Tracon will be consolidated into Houston Tracon.  In the summer of 2008 the FAA will consolidate the Lincoln (LNK) Tracon into Omaha, Nebraska (R90) Tracon and the Pueblo (PUB), Colorado Tracon into the Denver (DEN) Tracon.

According to the FAA, consolidating Tracons saves money and increases controller efficiency.

The importance to our members

Tracons are FAA facilities that house air traffic controllers who use radar displays and radios to guide aircraft approaching and departing airports generally within a 30- to 50-mile radius up to 10,000 feet, as well as aircraft that may be flying over that airspace. In other words, while Tracon controllers do not handle landings and takeoffs like airport tower controllers, they are responsible for the safe separation of aircraft flying in the busy areas surrounding airports.

There are currently 21 Tracons nationwide that provide radar separation of aircraft in busy terminal areas. GA pilots depend on this service for both instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) services. Many general aviation operations transiting from the terminal to the enroute environment rely on the radar service provided by Tracon facilities, especially for IFR flights.

AOPA Policy

AOPA is working to ensure that the FAA adequately studies and addresses the potential impacts caused by Tracon consolidations. These potential impacts include the FAA's ability to maintain robust radar services and the potential for inadequate staffing, which could result in controller saturation.  Further, the FAA should provide adequate notification and opportunity for input on any planned Tracon consolidation

Simply put, AOPA would oppose any FAA action that would cause negative impacts to existing services to pilots.

 

Updated Monday, March 31, 2008 2:31 PM