Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue Jul 26, 2011, 12:07 AM EDT
— CUMBERLAND — The impact of the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration would likely impact two local airports very differently.
While issues at the Garrett County Airport are likely to be minimal, those at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport could be significant.
“The Potomac Highlands Airport Authority is greatly concerned with the shutdown of the FAA as it will further delay our ability to receive grant funding for the ongoing land acquisition project. ... The PHAA currently has a grant application pending with the FAA that cannot be processed as a result of the shutdown,” said Cindy Pyles, the authority’s chairwoman.
Those grants’ funds would go to help pay back a grant from the Maryland Aviation Administration, Pyles said.
The shutdown could also set back the remainder of the land acquisition program, said Pyles. That portion of the program includes “parcels located to the north of the airport in Swan Pond,” said Pyles.
In 2010, the authority garnered $417,752 in federal funds to put toward property acquisitions and easements that are required to expand the airport’s runway protection zone. The purchase process has been slowed by negotiations with landowners and funding issues, according to Times-News reports.
At the smaller Garrett County Airport, the shutdown shouldn’t cause problems, said Ed Kelley, the airport manager.
“No, it won’t have any impact,” Kelley said. “It might take pilots a bit longer to file a flight plan,” he said. Kelley said he knew some larger airports would face more problems because of the shutdown. It might also slow down the grant approval process, he said.
U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski issued a joint statement Friday outlining their concerns about the FAA shutdown.
“Failure to pass an extension will shut down the FAA, affecting approximately 4,000 employees who monitor safety and develop air traffic systems for both civil and military aircraft,” said Cardin, a member of the Senate Budget and Finance committees. “This shutdown will be unprecedented and it will severely harm our economy and everyone who depends on a thriving aviation system. It also is a clear attack on federal employees who manage our nation’s aviation and could have serious safety implications for air travelers.”
The senators said the shutdown could cause economic havoc.
“Without an extension, up to 4,000 FAA employees in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be furloughed without pay and will lose their health benefits after 30 days. ... Additionally, $49.9 million in funding for projects in DC/Maryland/Virginia combined would be delayed. Without an extension, approximately $200 million a week in airline taxes will not be deposited into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund,” the statement continued.
The shutdown does not affect air traffic controllers.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com
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