(KRON) — Contract negotiations for air visitors controllers at San Carlos Airport (SQL) have stalled, in accordance with native officers. Final month, it was reported that the small peninsula airport, which is positioned simply 12 miles south of San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) would lose its air visitors controllers.
Information that the airport’s tower would quickly be unstaffed got here on the identical day of the Washington D.C. air catastrophe through which an Military Blackhawk helicopter collided with an American Airways passenger jet, killing 67 individuals. Nonetheless, days later, SQL introduced it had reached an settlement to maintain its air visitors controllers.
However regardless of an settlement between the airport’s present contractor and the Federal Aviation Administration to increase the present contract for 60 days, significant negotiations “are not occurring,” in accordance with San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller.
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A airplane takes off from San Carlos Airport in San Carlos, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Picture by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle by way of Getty Photos)
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The stall in negotiations, in accordance with Mueller, might put Bay Space residents in danger.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that negotiations have not been productive to ensure skyways over San Mateo County are safe,” mentioned Mueller, whose district contains San Carlos Airport. “Given the airport’s proximity to San Francisco International Airport, the FAA must prioritize this air traffic controller agreement. This delay is unacceptable, and we need to see a clear, timely commitment from the FAA and their contractor to finalize these negotiations with the airport’s air traffic controller.”
San Carlos Mayor Sara McDowell can be calling for consideration to the difficulty, saying, “the safety of our San Carlos community and our regional neighbors is non-negotiable. We urge all parties to act swiftly and decisively to restore long-term air traffic control services at the San Carlos Airport.”
Described as a “vital aviation hub,” San Carlos Airport is house to over 500 plane and 25 aviation-related enterprise. It is also a “critical training ground” for aspiring pilots, in accordance with Mueller.
“As the deadline approaches, airport officials and elected officials are calling on the FAA to expedite the negotiation process and ensure that the San Carlos Airport is staffed with qualified air traffic controllers who are compensated fairly and in accordance with the cost of living in the Bay Area,” mentioned Mueller’s workplace in a press release.
The contract dispute at SQL comes amid ongoing nationwide questions over aviation security within the midst of job cuts on the FAA instituted by the Trump administration and its proxy company, the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. Earlier this week, a Delta commuter flight from Minneapolis crash landed in Toronto, flipped the other way up and caught hearth.
All 80 individuals onboard the airplane managed to outlive.
