Butterfield Urges FAA to Reconsider Airport District Office Reorganization Plan


WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) reacted to today’s announcement that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would move forward with its realignment proposal for FAA Airport District Offices, causing North Carolina airports to report to the FAA’s Memphis, Tennessee office instead of the FAA’s Atlanta, Georgia office.  

“I am deeply disappointed by the FAA’s decision to shift support for North Carolina’s airports from the FAA’s Atlanta regional office to the FAA’s Memphis regional office,” Butterfield said.  “The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Airports Association are opposed to this plan and have told the FAA that this change will increase costs for the state and its airports, while decreasing their level of service.”

FAA Airport District Offices provide support to states and individual airports with funding, compliance, safety, construction, environmental issues, and planning.

According to the NCDOT and the North Carolina Airports Association, the FAA’s plan to realign Airport District Offices will decrease the level of service North Carolina airports receive unless the FAA hires new workers.  The shift will make it more difficult and expensive for state and airport representatives to travel to the FAA regional office.  Additionally, the shift eliminates the opportunity for state and airport representatives to meet simultaneously with their FAA Regional office and officials from the other federal agencies located in Atlanta.