Congressional move afoot to cancel FSS outsourcing contract with Lockheed

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_2696173



MAIN HUB AT AIRPORT MAY CLOSE
by Peter Urban

WASHINGTON - Three Connecticut lawmakers
are fighting to keep 47 federal air traffic control specialists on the job
at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, Conn.

The Bush administration recently awarded a $1.9 billion contract to Lockheed
Martin to privatize federal flight service stations that general aviation
pilots contact to file flight plans and get weather and air-traffic reports.
The contract, scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1, would have Lockheed Martin
close 38 of the 58 flight service stations starting next spring - including
the Bridgeport regional station, which serves Connecticut, Rhode Island and
the eastern two- thirds of Massachusetts.

Employees located in the remaining 20 stations would do work currently done
at the 58 stations.

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4; Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, and Sen. Joe Lieberman,
D-Conn., co- sponsored legislation that would void the contract and require
that ATC workers at flight service stations be federal employees.
"Bridgeport's flight service station is important both to our local economy
and for the safety of planes flying in our area," Shays said. "The bill will
keep the flight service station open, saving 47 jobs" at the Stratford
facility.

He signed on as a co-sponsor Thursday.

Lieberman, who co-sponsored legislation in the Senate, accused the Bush
administration of having a record of arbitrarily outsourcing federal jobs.

"When it comes to maintaining aviation safety standards, in particular, the
work should not automatically go to the lowest bidder," Lieberman said.

DeLauro agreed. She is also "deeply concerned" that the closing will have a
devastating impact on Bridgeport-area workers who are nearing retirement age
and may lose federal pension benefits that would otherwise accrue to them.

The Bridgeport station opened in March 1984 and was the nation's first
automated flight service station. It provided more than 500,000 flight
services in 2003 and was the 15th busiest in the nation.

Morgan Kaolian, a local pilot who was superintendent of operations at the
airport when the flight service station opened there, said it would be
missed.

"It's a prestigious element at the airport. This put Bridgeport on all the
aeronautical maps," Kaolian said. "If you're a pilot calling anywhere in
southern New England, you get Bridgeport."

However, Kaolian does not believe a consolidation will have an impact on
safety at Sikorsky airport since the work will be done elsewhere.

But, it will mean that local pilots won't be able to visit the office for a
face-to-face meeting when filing a flight plan.

"It got to be a friendly thing," Kaolian said.

Kurt Sendlein, superintendent of operations at Sikorsky Airport, said that
the departure of the FAA station would mean loss of a tenant for the city of
Bridgeport, which owns the Stratford airport.

Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced the House version of the bill earlier
this month and now has 44 co-sponsors, including 37 Democrats and seven
Republicans. Two South Dakota senators sponsored the Senate version.

Lockheed Martin also plans to close automated flight service stations in
Vermont and South Dakota.

The 38 automated flight service stations scheduled to close employ 1,044
people in 33 states. Air traffic control specialists advise pilots about
such factors as terrain, pre-flight and in-flight weather information,
suggested routes of flight, altitudes, and indications of turbulence or
icing. Additionally, ATC specialists provide pilots with information
regarding temporary flight restrictions around prohibited and restricted
areas.

Kate Breen, president of the National Association of Air Traffic
Specialists, said the privatization plan does not guarantee a continued
level of service or safety.

"Aviation safety and security considerations require that flight service
jobs should remain under governmental control. Simply put, safety should not
be put up for sale," said Breen, who formerly worked at the Bridgeport
station.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association supports the privatization
efforts as a way of modernizing and cutting costs.

The Lockheed Martin contract is expected to save the FAA $2.2 billion over
the next 10 years, according to the AOPA.