County supervisors support bills to halt Ramona Airport control tower closure
The county Board of Supervisors urged federal lawmakers on April 23 to approve pending legislation in Congress that would save the Ramona Airport traffic control tower.
The FAA announced the closures earlier this year, citing sequestration.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob, whose District 2 includes Ramona, and Supervisor Ron Roberts are leading local opposition to the move, stressing that the Ramona tower is critical to public safety. Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of Cal Fire tankers and other firefighting aircraft based at the airstrip.
“San Diego County is wildfire country so it’s critical that the tower remains open,” said Jacob, the board vice-chairwoman. “I urge Congressional lawmakers to right this wrong and to keep the public safe.”
“It is vital we align with federal leaders who support halting the politically-orchestrated closure of airport control towers,” said Ron Roberts. “Clearly, the FAA needs to continue staffing the Ramona Airport control tower, especially as San Diego County approaches the heart of fire season following a period of low rainfall.”
The control tower was established in response to a 1995 incident in the San Diego County backcountry, in which three people died in an aerial collision involving federal firefighting aircraft.
The board backed two bills – H.R. 1432 and S. 687 – that would keep open 149 towers targeted under federal sequestration. The legislation was introduced on April 9 and receives broad support from Democrats and Republicans.
Senate bill 687 would prohibit the closures during the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. House bill 1432 would transfer money within the FAA to keep the facilities in operation.
The Cal Fire air base at Ramona Airport responds to more than 400 calls a year. During major wildfires, up to 18 firefighting aircraft can operate out of the airfield. In addition, the airport handles more than 155,000 general aviation operations annually, according to the county.
Other prominent officials who have raised concerns about the closure include Dave Hanneman, chief of the Chula Vista Fire Department and president of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association, and Ray Chaney, air operations division chief with Cal Fire.