Reported by Kerry Lynch for AIN Online
As for the Modern Skies Coalition, the organizations wrote an open letter to Congress, printed in the Washington Post, reminding them of the critical need for funding.
“The government shutdown has disrupted that work and slowed the strong momentum we have built for modernization. But the shutdown is having a much more direct, immediate impact. The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough every day, but forcing federal employees to do it without pay is unacceptable,” the organizations wrote. “Without immediate government action, the federal employees charged with the safety of our aviation system are missing paychecks again this week. We owe public servants…a debt of gratitude and a swift ending to this shutdown.”
The coalition added that Congress has provided a down payment on modernizing ATC and supercharging controller hiring. “But those initiatives are challenged as the shutdown continues,” it added.
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