Board to request FAA review after airport ranks among busiest contract towers

Staff updated the board on a year-long follow-up with RVA and tower staffing. After reviewing traffic and post-construction data, staff said the airport is now ranked among the nation's busiest contract towers and that volume is on track to reach a record level. "You can go into the FAA's database and showing that we are ranked number 5 in the nation for the busiest contract tower," staff told the board.

Given the staffing level changes after the prior air traffic-control manager left and a subsequent rebid of the contract with reduced staffing, staff said they will submit a joint letter (RVA, EVB, airport management) to the FAA asking for reconsideration of staffing. Staff committed to sending board members a blind-copied draft of the letter for comment before submission and to provide the board a copy for review.