Travelers Through Tulsa Airport Experience Delays Due To FAA Furlough

Federal Aviation Administration spending cuts have caused airport delays across the country.

The federal government sequester is forcing the FAA to furlough air traffic controllers at a number of major airports, which has meant flight delays nationwide.

Top Democrats are backing a measure that would roll back the budget cuts. One idea is to give the FAA more flexibility in shifting money from other areas to prevent the furloughs.

Republicans are also calling for action, but they say the Obama administration is trying to maximize the airline delays, so the public will blame Republicans for the hassle.

Whatever is done, many travelers hope a solution is reached soon.

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

And air traffic controllers and other FAA employees that support them are basically facing a furlough day every other week. The busiest airports are expected to take the hardest hits, but there is worry it could have a ripple effect on other airports like Tulsa International.

We found Nona Hutton waiting at Tulsa International for a cousin to come in from Baltimore, via Chicago. But the flight was delayed.

"We're a fast food society, so we don't like to wait," Hutton said.

A lot of people were waiting due to delayed flights.

Due to sequester spending cuts, 13,000 air traffic controllers face 11 furlough days through September.

4/22/2013 Related Story: FAA Furloughs Kick In, Some Flight Delays Appear

Hutton said the cuts should never have happened in the first place.

"I'm upset, because I would really like the fluff to be gone and the jobs we really do need in America to be here," Hutton said.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, after just two days of furloughs, more than 10,000 flights have been delayed.

Los Angeles resident Len Kasang, just arriving in Tulsa, experienced only a few minor delays.

"Hopefully we can be a little more functional as a government and try to solve this problem," Kasang said.

Tulsa International has seen only a handful of delays, because of air traffic staffing issues.

"They may not see long lines at the Tulsa International Airport, but when they get on an airplane and head to DFW, or head to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Newark or wherever they're going, the system is going to slow up," said Dave Spero.

Spero represents the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, basically those that support operations of air traffic control towers, including equipment maintenance.

"No question about it, without the air traffic controllers, the system can't work. But without the equipment working that they use, the system can't work either," Spero said.

The group represents about 450 FAA employees in Oklahoma, who also face furloughs.

He said the situation will only get worse, if it's not addressed--and soon.

The FAA said the furloughs are the only way to slash $637 million from its budget, which is required by the automatic sequester cuts.