New Bill Will Provide FAA Funding; Ramona Airport Tower's Future Uncertain

New legislation cleared by Congress Friday will allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to shift $253 million from other accounts to help end furloughs that began earlier this week, USA Today reported, but it's unclear whether the funds will help keep Ramona Airport's traffic control tower open.

Though the new bill could end furlough days immediately once President Obama approves it, the FAA said it wasn't sure how quickly controller schedules could be changed to fully staff the control towers, the publication said.

Although 149 national air traffic control towers are set to close this year beginning in June, including the Ramona Airport's tower, the new bill doesn't specify how the FAA can disperse the $253 million or the fate of small airport towers, USA Today said.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who has urged residents numerous times to oppose the impending tower closure, said she was disappointed in the fact that the bill doesn't directly provide funding for the Ramona Airport traffic control tower and similar public safety facilities nationwide.

“While I welcome the news that Congress moved to prevent harmful cuts in the FAA budget, I’m extremely disappointed that wording aimed at saving the Ramona Airport tower and other towers was stripped from the legislation," Jacob said in a statement. "We need to step up the pressure on Washington and make sure the money is also directed to Ramona and similar facilities that are on the front lines of keeping our citizens safe. With summer coming on, and the peak of fire season looming in our region, keeping the Ramona tower in operation is as critical as ever.”

Read the full story of the new legislation on USA Today.