ATCA Urges Congress to Prevent a Government Shutdown

Alexandria, Va. – ATCA today urged Congress to prevent a government shutdown and protect the aviation infrastructure that supports the U.S. economy and traveling public. 

“As a member of the Modern Skies Coalition, we are committed to rapid modernization of America's airspace,” said ATCA President & CEO Stephen Creamer in a letter to congressional leadership, representing the U.S. companies that design, develop, and maintain the world's most complex air traffic management system. “A government shutdown would immediately disrupt this essential work and the strong momentum we've built through successful government-industry collaboration.” 

Creamer said the operational impact of a shutdown would be “significant.” 

“Many safety-critical projects and programs, including training for air traffic controllers, would stop,” Creamer wrote. “The Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) implementation may face delays. Many contracts supporting 100 companies would freeze, leaving thousands of aviation professionals without paychecks and creating financial hardship for their families.” 

Stable, predictable funding is essential for aviation safety, particularly in retaining the multi-layered safety margins currently in place as traffic demand increases across the National Airspace System, Creamer said. 

“We are simultaneously building tomorrow's system while maintaining today's operations – modernizing the most efficient airspace system in the world while ensuring uninterrupted service,” he wrote. “Government shutdowns make this dual responsibility impossible to fulfill effectively.”

View ATCA's Letter