BACKGROUND: The FAA Federal Contract Tower Program has provided essential air traffic safety services since 1982. Currently, 226 airports in 46 states participate in the program (193 in the fully funded base line program and 33 in the cost-share program). This represents 45 percent of all control towers in the U.S. In addition, federal contract towers handle approximately 25 percent of control tower aircraft operations for about 10 percent of FAA's budget to operate all control towers in the U.S. Twelve to fifteen non-towered airports and non-federal towers are expected to enter the program by the end of FY '06, subject to available funding.

The safety and efficiency record of the Federal Contract Tower Program for the past two decades has been validated numerous times by the DOT Inspector General (IG) and FAA safety audits, as well as by the National Transportation Safety Board. The IG also has verified the cost-effectiveness of the program to taxpayers.

All federal contract controllers are FAA certified air traffic controllers who meet the identical training and operating standards as FAA controllers. The vast majority of federal contract controllers are retired military or FAA controllers. Approximately, 99 percent have FAA or military air traffic control experience.

FAA controls and oversees all aspects of the federal contract tower program, including operating procedures, staffing plans, certification of contract controllers, security and facility evaluations.

As a result of this 23-year government/industry partnership, the Federal Contract Tower Program: (1) enhances aviation safety at smaller airports that in many cases would not have a tower; (2) saves local airports and communities up to $100 million annually; (3) consistently receives high marks for customer service from aviation users (pilots, airlines, FBOs, flights schools and corporate flight departments), and (4) helps airports with retaining and developing commercial air service and corporate aviation.

Federal contract towers operate together with FAA-staffed facilities throughout the country as part of a unified national air traffic control system. A case in point was September 11, 2001, when FAA contract controllers from 219 airports worked closely with the FAA controller workforce to safely land thousands of airplanes that day. Additionally, federal contract controllers work closely with FAA and the Department of Homeland Security on in-flight aviation security issues.