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Sequestration looms as FAA plans to cut $600 million in spending

Sequestration is expected to go into effect on March 1 and the Federal Aviation Administration has made plans to cut $600 million in spending to offset losses. One of the major changes the FAA plans to implement in the event of sequestration is furloughing, and since the one month notice must be given to employees, the full extent of the sequestration won't be felt until April 1. 

"Among the changes we are considering are furloughing the vast majority of our 47,000 employees for approximately one day per pay period; closing over 100 air traffic control facilities; eliminating the overnight shift at over 60 facilities; and reducing preventive maintenance and support for all air traffic control equipment," read an FAA statement. "All of these changes will be finalized as to scope and details through collaborative discussions with our users and our unions. We will begin furloughs and start facility shut-downs in April."

Sequestration was put off for two months on January 2, when Washington passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Now the new deadline is March 1, and if no further action is taken the FAA will begin furlough announcements and implement other spending cuts. 

If a decision fails to confront sequestration, nearly $85 billion will be imposed in tax cuts for the rest of this year. That money will have to be offset and the FAA will have to take money from employees, products, contracts, travel, service, repair and anything else they can scrape up. The FAA would not be forced to fire employees, but they would have to be required to take at least one day off without pay for nearly every eight days. 

Republicans tell FAA to sharpen their pencils
Certain Congressional Republicans in the House and Senate said the the FAA is prematurely outlining the impacts on sequestration without identifying other ways they can save. 

"Before jumping to conclusions that furloughs must be implemented, the administration and the agency need to sharpen their pencils and consider all the options," said Sen. John Thune (R-SD), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Science and Transportation, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), chairman of its subcommittee on aviation.

The Republicans added that the FAA is well situated to absorb spending reductions without compromising safety and efficiency. 

While the effects of sequestration will be widespread, those in the general aviation community looking to plan their own future should obtain pilot life insurance. 

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