On Wednesday, the San Carlos Airport in the Bay Area announced that its air traffic controller will be unstaffed starting Saturday, February 1. The announcement comes amid the tragedy that unfolded when a U.S. Army helicopter crashed into an American Airlines jet with over 64 people onboard over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed San Mateo County Airport that it has awarded its contract for air traffic services to Robinson Aviation. However, the new contract did not include locality pay, resulting in a much lower salary offer for air traffic controllers compared to their current compensation, according to KRON 4. Consequently, the airport’s controllers declined the offer, leaving San Carlos Airport without a staffed control tower by the end of the month.
The county reportedly sought temporary staffing assistance from the FAA to address the unforeseen gap in air traffic services, but the request was turned down. As a result, all takeoffs and landings at San Carlos Airport will operate without control, requiring pilots to manage their movements through radio communication. Although this practice is typical at smaller airports, the outlet also reported that the airport’s location near San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and its high volume of private and commercial flights make the situation particularly risky.
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San Carlos Airport is also home to over 25 aviation-related businesses and the San Carlos Flight Center, which trains new pilots. Additionally it is a hub for 500 aircraft.
