The FAA is considering consolidating some of the early approach stages into Little Rock at Memphis as part of a move to consolidate TRACONs – terminal radar approach control. Takeoffs and landings would still be handled by Little Rock air traffic control, which was upgraded to the tune of $30 million in 2000. Congress is already involved as Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, called on the agency to hold hearings and establish criteria to justify consolidation before any changes.
FAA is also considering the consolidation of Palm Springs airspace into the Southern California TRACON in San Diego, Calif. but California Senator Dianne Feinstein, wants the agency to report back on any safety issues that could result from such a consolidation.
The consolidation program comes at a time when airlines are calling on FAA to do what they have done since 911 – streamline its operations to make them more cost effective so it will be interesting to see whether it will be able to accomplish its goals given Congressional interest. Indeed, according to the Associate Press, Pryor Spokesperson Michael Teague said, “We're actually putting in barriers, or very high hurdles, for the FAA to approach this. We don't want to see anyone's safety in central Arkansas be jeopardized by a bean counter, someone who's looking to shift all this work 200 miles away."
FAA pointed out the consolidation would save money and free up space for airport expansion. "Generally, co-locating TRACONS where possible saves taxpayer money by eliminating the need for the FAA to have multiple buildings, automation systems, voice switches and all of the overhead associated with the TRACON infrastructure," according to an FAA fact sheet. "In some cases, the agency can provide more services to more locations with the same amount of money. In other cases, the agency can provide the same services it was providing, but at much less cost to taxpayers."