U.S. Senator Ken Salazar Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees 2300 15^th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
For Immediate Release May 23, 2006		CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Comm. Director 303-455-7600 Andrew Nannis – Press Secretary 202-224-5852
Sen. Salazar Presses FAA to Keep Jobs in Pueblo DENVER, CO – United States Senator Ken Salazar wrote to FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey today strongly encouraging her to leave Pueblo’s TRACON in Pueblo. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reviewing the status of Pueblo’s terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facility and may possibly realign it. Pueblo’s TRACON facility is home to 12 employee positions. “Jobs are hard to come by in southeastern Colorado and the relocation of any jobs or facilities, especially high skilled jobs and technical facilities tied to the screening and testing of U.S. Air Force pilots, would negatively impact the economic vitality of the Pueblo region,” said Senator Salazar. In today’s letter Senator Salazar expressed his opposition to any proposed move, writing, “I strongly oppose any FAA efforts to relocate Pueblo TRACON to Colorado Springs, and I urge you to remove it from your list of TRACON facilities slated for review and possible realignment.” Senator Salazar’s full letter to Administrator Blakey is included below. May 23, 2006 Administrator Marion C. Blakey FAA Headquarters Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20591 Dear Administrator Blakey: It has come to my attention that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has listed Pueblo as one of 170 terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facilities slated for review and possible realignment, specifically to Colorado Springs. I encourage you in the strongest possible terms to leave Pueblo’s TRACON unaltered and in its current location at Pueblo Municipal Airport. This listing of Pueblo’s TRACON for possible relocation is especially alarming given Pueblo’s status as the newly designated site for pilot screening and testing for the U.S. Air Force under contract with DOSS Aviation. According to Pueblo City Council President Michael A. Occhiato, executives of DOSS Aviation purposely identified the existing TRACON at Pueblo Memorial Airport as part of their contract proposal to the Air Force, and the Air Force later advised DOSS that the air traffic control tower arrangement played a major role in the final decision and eventual award of this contract. Furthermore, the Air Force has already confirmed to my office that the existence of Pueblo’s TRACON was a consideration in awarding the contract, and is currently unable to provide assurances that such a re-alignment will not adversely affect operations at Pueblo. Realigning operations may place this contract in jeopardy and could result in delayed pilot training services during a critical time. In addition, the City of Pueblo has invested more than $3 million in development of a Commercial Hangar Complex as well as financial incentives to attract the DOSS Aviation contract. Part of the basis for these investments has been the existence of Pueblo’s TRACON facilities, which are a key selling point with many civil aviators. These are long term investments made with confidence that the Pueblo TRACON would be present for many years to come. I strongly oppose any FAA efforts to relocate Pueblo TRACON to Colorado Springs, and I urge you to remove it from your list of TRACON facilities slated for review and possible realignment. Sincerely, Ken Salazar United States Senator # # #