Schumer Calls For Full Staffing Of All New York Air Traffic Towers

ny1.newsx.cc

Schumer Calls For Full Staffing Of All New York Air Traffic Towers
09/04/2006 10:42 AM
By: NY1 News

Prompted by last week's tragic plane crash in Kentucky, Senator Charles Schumer is demanding that New York's air traffic control towers be fully staffed around the clock.

Schumer says he wants the towers at all area airports to be fully staffed and called on Congress to approve $60 million for a new tower at LaGuardia Airport. He says the changes would help ease delays and boost safety.

"The FAA says we don't need as many controllers because we have updated our equipment, but they haven't updated the equipment, at LaGuardia and at too many other towers," he said. "So the new tower is essential to reducing delays and improving safety on the ground and in the skies."

Schumer says roof leaks, power problems and no air-conditioning are some of the problems air traffic controllers deal with while working in LaGuardia's 42-year-old tower.