Ramona Airport tower funding secure through October

Wednesday, Oct. 2—

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), funding for the Ramona Airport air traffic control tower is secure through the end of October, Michael Harrison, deputy chief of staff in Congressman Duncan Hunter’s El Cajon office, said today.

Concerns about lack of funding for the control tower operations due to the federal government shutdown has kept the congressman’s office on top of the issue, especially with peak fire season approaching, said Harrison. The airport serves as a fire attack base for firefighting aircraft.

Harrison said he spoke directly with FAA Office of Government Affairs on Tuesday to ensure that it was aware of the ongoing concerns about the airport tower. There could be problems, he said, after October if Congress has not approved a federal budget measure by then. Harrison said the congressman and his staff will take every action to ensure the tower stays open.