FAA Delays Decision To Furlough Weather Observers

The Federal Aviation Administration announced it will wait until at least October to decide if it will phase out weather observers at 140 airports.

In Tulsa, the FAA currently pays contractors to watch the weather, but the agency wants air traffic controllers to do the job instead, to cut costs.

An FAA spokesperson gave us this statement Tuesday:

"Air traffic controllers currently provide quality weather observation services at more than 300 airports around the country. The FAA pays contractors to provide those same services at an additional 140 facilities around the country. In an effort to reduce costs without reducing the services or impacting safety, the FAA has been working through a phased plan to train controllers to take over those duties from the contractors. After further reviewing the plan, the FAA has made the determination that it will extend its weather observer contracts through the end of this fiscal year to allow for more stakeholder input on how to proceed going forward."

4/23/2013 Related Story: Tulsa Weather Observers: FAA Furloughs May Compromise Flight Safety