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1 U~TED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR USCA DiSTRICT Case OF COLUMBIA # GIRCU1T Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 1 of 19 I MAR ~ TED STATES COURT OF APPE -'..,,, P CUrr ~F:.{-:QKJk T DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA C... ~:-.T.rTT RECEIVE D., MAR 2 7 Z0l3 CITY OF ORMOND BEACH, ) CLERK FLORIDA, ) ) CITY OF NAPLES ) AIRPORT AUTHORITY, and ) ) CHARLOTTE COUNTY ) AIRPORT AUTHORITY, ) ) Petitioners ) ) Petition for Review v. ) ) MICHAEL HUERTA, ) Administrator of the Federal ) Aviation Administration, and ) ) FEDERAL AVIATION ) ADMINISTRATION ) ) Respondents ) Pursuant to 49 U.S.C and Rule 15(a) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the City of Ormond Beach, Florida, the City of Naples Airport Authority, and the Charlotte County Airport Authority hereby petition the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of the Federal Aviation Administration's ("FAA") decision to close 149 federal contract air traffic control towers, including towers at the airports in Ormond Beach, Naples, and Punta Gorda, Florida.

2 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 2 of 19 FAA's decision is set forth in (a) a letter dated March 5, 2013, which was sent to each of the Petitioners from Michael P. Huerta, FAA Administrator, and J. David Grizzle; FAA Chief Operating Officer; and (b) an from J. David Grizzle sent to each of the Petitioners accompanied by a list of 149 air traffic control towers to be closed beginning April 7, This list included the air traffic control towers at Petitioners' airports. These documents are contained in Attachment A to this Petition. RULE 26.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT None of the Petitioners is a "nongovernmental corporate identity" and therefore none of the Petitioners is required to file a corporate disclosure statement pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 26.1 and D.C. Circuit Rule Petitioner City of Ormond Beach, Florida is a municipal governmental body under the laws of Florida. The City of Naples Municipal Airport Authority and the Charlotte County Airport Authority are both political subdivisions of the State of Florida. 2

3 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 3 of 19 Dated: March 27, 2013 Attorneys for Petitioners: L,~e, (] (J;;;E. Putn~ ~ jputnam@kaplankirsch.com Peter J. Kirsch pkirsch@kaplankirsch.com Lisa A. Reynolds lreynolds@kaplankirsch.com KAPLAN, KIRSCH & ROCKWELL, LLP 1675 Broadway, Suite 2300 Denver, CO (303) (303) (fax) 3

4 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 4 of 19 ATTACHMENT A

5 e USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 5 of 19. ' u.s. Department 800 Independence Ave. SW. of Transportation Washington. DC Federal Avlcltlon Administration March 5, 2013 CITY OF ORMOND BEACH POBOX277 ORMOND BEACH, FL Dear Airport Sponsor: Thank you for your participation in the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program. We regret to inform you that in order to implement the budget sequestration that went into effect on March 1, 2013, the FAA must make some critical decisions about funding for the FCT Program. The FAA's guiding principles in implementing the budget sequestration are to maintain our high safety standards, al;ld to minimize the impact to the greatest numbers of passengers. Therefore, the FAA's initial plans unfortunately affect smaller airports with fewer operations and lower passenger counts more significantly than locations serving larger blocks of passengers. We have identified and, on February 22,2013, published a list of towers that had fewer than 150,000 total operations AND fewer than 10,000 commercial operations. We anticipate that we will cease to fund on-site air traffic control services at the vast majority of these facilities. Your airport falls below the above stated criteria based on Fiscal Year 2012 traffic count, and therefore the tower is on the list of those for which we may cease providing funding. Between now and March 13,2013, the FAA is reviewing itsjist of locations where it plans to discontinue air traffic control services to identify any locations where the national interest would be adversely affected by tower closure. Negative impact on the national interest is the only criterion the FAA will use for.deciding to continue services to an airport that falls below the activity threshold. The FAA is unable to consider local community impact that does not affect the national interest. The FAA will consider information concerning how closure of particular tower operations will adversely affect the national interest in submissions it receives on or before March 13,2013. Submissions may be sent to ATO-Terminal Services at ClosureComments@faa.gov or fax to A TO-Terminal Services at (202) The FAA plans to finalize the list of facility closures by March 18, While the timing of this action is driven by sequestration, continuing annual budgetary pressure may necessitate future reductions such as these. For communities where the continuation of air traffic control services is important to their airport, but the impact of closure is local and does not affect the national interest, the non-federal contract tower program continues to be an available option to maintain air traffic control services at the airport's expense. Additional information regarding the non-federal contract tower program is contained in Advisory Circular Number AC 90-93A (Operating Procedures for Airport Traffic Control

6 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 6 of 219 Towers (ATCT) that are not operated by, or under contract with, the United States (Non Federal)). If you have additional questions or need further information, please contact your FAA point of contact in the Service Center, or Tony Mello, Director of Terminal Operations at FAA Headquarters, at (202) Sincerely, M~Lft:f[D Admtnistrator :;;q~ J. David Griizle Chief Operating Officer Air Traffic Organization

7 e USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 7 of 19 ~- u.s. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration March 5, 2013 CITY OF NAPLES APT AUTH 160 AVIATION DR NORTH NAPLES, FL Dear Airport Sponsor: 800 Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC Th(Ulk you for your participation in the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program. We regret to inform you that in order to implement the budget sequestration that went into effect on March 1, 2013, the FAA must make some critical decisions about funding for the FCT Program. The FAA's guiding principles in implementing the budget sequestration are to maintain our high safety standards, and to minimize the impact to the greatest numbers of passengers. Therefore, the FAA's initial plans unfortunately affect smaller airports with fewer operations and lower passenger counts more significantly than locations serving larger blocks of passengers. We have identified and, on February 22,2013, published a list of towers that had fewer than 150,000 total operations AND fewer than 10,000 commercial operations. We anticipate that we will cease to fund on-site air traffic control services at the vast majority of these facilities. ' I I! I I i I! j! I ~ Your airport falls below the above stated criteria based on Fiscal Year 2012 traffic count, and therefore the tower is on the list of those for which we may cease providing funding. Between now and March 13, 2013, the FAA is reviewing its list of locations where it plans to. discontinue air traffic control services to identify any locations where the national interest would be adversely affected by tower closure. Negative impact on the national interest is the only criterion the FAA will use for deciding to continue services to an airport that falls below the activity threshold. The FAA is unable to consider local community impact that does not affect the national interest. The FAA will consider information concerning how closure of particular tower operations will adversely affect the national interest in submissions it receives on or before March 13,2013. Submissions may be sent to A TO-Terminal Services at ClosureCormnents@faa.gov or fax to A TO-Terminal Services at (202) The FAA plans to finalize the list of facility closures by March 18, While the timing of this action is driven by sequestration, continuing annual budgetary pressure may necessitate future reductions such as these. For communities where the continuation of air traffic control services is important to their airport, but the impact of closure is local and does not affect the national interest, the non-federal contract tower program continues to be an available option to maintain air traffic control services at the airport's expense. Additional information regarding the non-federal contract tower program is contained in Advisory Circular Number AC 90-93A (Operating Procedures for Airport Traffic Control

8 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 8 of 19 2 Towers (A TCT) that are not operated by, or under contract with, the United States (Non- Federal)). If you' have additional questions or need further information, please contact your FAA point of contact in the Service Center, or Tony Mello, Director of Terminal Operations at FAA Headquarters, at (202) Sincerely, ~ti fkb{{j Adm1nistrator :;;q~ J. David Grizzle Chief Operating Officer Air Traffic. Organization

9 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 9 of 19 u.s. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration March 5, Independence Ave., SW. Wash~n,!!c lf{,< ~@j~~rp] MAR CHARLOTTE COUNTY ARPT AUTH A-1 AIRPORT RD PUNTA GORDA, FL Dear Airport Sponsor: Thank you for your participation in the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program. We regret to inform you that in order to implement the budget sequestration that went into effect on March 1, 2013, the FAA must make some critical decisions about funding for the FCT Program. The FAA's guiding principles in implementing the budget sequestration are to maintain our high safety standards, and to minimize the impact to the greatest numbers of passengers. Therefore, the FAA's initial plans unfortunately affect smaller airports with fewer operations and lower passenger counts more significantly than locations serving larger blocks of passengers. We have identified and, on February 22, 2013, published a list of towers that had fewer than 150,000 total operations AND fewer than 10,000 commercial operations. We anticipate that we will cease to fund on-site air traffic control services at the vast majority of these facilities. Your airport falls below the above stated criteria based on Fiscal Year 2012 traffic count, and therefore the tower is on the list of those for which we may cease providing funding. Between now and March 13,2013, the FAA is reviewing its list of locations where it plans to discontinue air traffic control services to identify any locations where the national interest would be adversely affected by tower closure. Negative impact on the national interest is the only criterion the FAA will use for deciding to continue services to an airport that falls below the activity threshold. The FAA is unable to consider local community impact that does not affect the national interest. The FAA will consider information concerning how closure of particular tower operations will adversely affect the national interest in submissions it receives on or before March 13, Submissions may be sent to ATO-Terminal Services at ClosureCotnments@faa.gov or fax to ATO-Terminal Services at (202) The FAA plans to finalize the list of facility closures by March 18, While the timing of this action is driven by sequestration, continuing annual budgetary pressure may necessitate future reductions such as these. For communities where the continuation of air traffic control services is important to their airport, but the impact of closure is local and does not affect the national interest, the non-federal contract tower program continues to be an available option to maintain air traffic control services at the airport's expense. Additional information regarding the non-federal contract tower program is contained in Advisory Circular Number AC 90-93A (Operating Procedures for Airport Traffic Control

10 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 102 of 19 Towers (ATCT) that are not operated by, or under contract with, the United States (Non Federal)). If you have additional questions or need further information, please contact your FAA point of contact in the Service Center, or Tony Mello, Director of Terminal Operations at FAA Headquarters, at (202) Sincerely, i:.lj!6v Administrator ::;((1~ J. David Grizzle Chief Operating Officer Air Traffic Organization -

11 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 11 of 19 From: Sent: Friday, March 22, :58 PM To: com; dha buque.org; cpa rks.com; stacy karen. va nwi joseph. pridenour washco-md.net; hickorync.gov; k. net; philf hutchgov.com; ROBERT c. THART2 COMCAST.NET; CO.ORG; charles. tw. hawaii.gov; wi. us; jackson.mi. us; ndgov. net; YLAWTON.ORG; DEBERLY LANCASTEB_AIRPORT.COM; m info@lawrencemunicipalairport.com; mark.cou kim.conroy@gwinnettcounty.com; doug.faour@tbiam.aerq; twilliams@merldianairport.com; ompkins@muncie-airport.com; steve@mckellarsipes.com; vallance@smyrnaairport.com; pridenour@washco-md. net; a net; Bbateman@mitchellairport.com;. rhendrix@cityoftniihngton.org; Mgrow@ocalafl.org; royaleccles@ogdencity.com; colin.mckee@jocogov.org; rudyr@portolympia.com; david. taylor@belz.com; dtayjor@belz.com; Lichliter, Steven; mejias@mlami-airport.com; tguintero@miami airport.com; jabreu@mlami-airport.com; jbuntlng@miami-airport.com; nfo@lawrencemunicipalairport.com; pmoll@co.winnebago.wi.us; DHAMMON OSUAIRPORT.ORG; THERESA@FLYOTH.COM; WALT@OU.EDU; airport@owb.net; adavis@massport.com; matthew.kelly@ct.gov; JORGE.RUBIO@ventura.org; todd.mcnamee@ventura.org; airport@owb.net; WAYNE.GREEN@Ci.PENDLETON.OR.US; daniel.e.clem@state.or.us; Gguill@fl~pgd.com; dallen@pocatello.us; tm@flymov.com; kenneth.neitzel@us.af.mil; sgleason@provo.org; TIM.WHITMAN@OKC.GOV; mripley@riversideca.gov; alina.anderson@dallascityhall.com; DGIFFORD@OCGOV.NET; dpendergast@ocgov.net; georget35@sbcglobal.net; bo,..donovan@sbcglobal.net; rzulauf@rentonwa.gov; 1

12 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 12 of NET; DOHNESORGE ENID.ORG; net; Rob. Subject: FAA Contract Tower Decision Update In early March, FAA proposed to close 189 contract air traffic control towers as part of its plan to meet the $637 million in cuts required under budget sequestration and announced that it would consider keeping open any of these towers if doing so would be in the national interest. The National interest considerations included: (1) significant threats to national security as determined by the FAA in consultation with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) significant, adverse economic impact that is beyond the impact on a local community; (3).significant impact on multi-state transportation, communication or banking/financial networks; and (4) the extent to which an airport currently served by a contract tower is a critical diversionary airport to a large hub. In addition to reviewing materials submitted on behalf of towers on the closure list, DOT consulted with the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and conducted operational assessments of each potential tower closure on the national air transportation system. As a result, 24 federal contract towers will re.main open because closing them would have a negative impact on the national interest. The FAA will begin a four-week phased closure of 149 federal contract towers beginning on April 7. An additional16 number of federal contract towers under the "cost share" program will be able to remain open because Congressional statute sets aside funds every fiscal year for these towers. These funds are subject to sequestration but the required 5 percent cut will not result in tower closures. Some communities will elect to participate in FAA's non-federal tower program and assume the cost of continued, on-site air traffic control services at their airport (see Advisory Circular AC 90-93A). The FAA is committed to facilitating this transition. Sincerely, David Grizzle Chief Operating Officer Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC Notice: finder florida lavv. t!-mail addresses are public records. ((vou do not wanr your address released in response to a pub!icrecurds request, do not send e1ectronic mail to this enti~v instead contact this oj.flce ~v plume or in writing. 2

13 FAA Contract Towers Remaining Open USCA Case # Document # (24 FCTs) Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 13 of 19 Page 1 of 1

14 FAA Contract Tower Closure List USCA Case # Document # (149 FCTs) Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 14 of 19 Page 1 of 4

15 FAA Contract Tower Closure List (149 FCTs) USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 15 of 19 Page 2 of 4

16 FAA Contract Tower Closure List (149 FCTs) USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 16 of 19 Page 3 of 4

17 FAA Contract Tower Closure List USCA Case # Document # (149 FCTs) Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 17 of 19 Page 4 of4

18 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 18 of 19 FAA Contract Tower Cost Share Sites Remaining Open (16 FCTs) Page 1 of 1

19 USCA Case # Document # Filed: 03/27/2013 Page 19 of 19 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify, in accordance with Fed. Rule of App. Proc. 15(c)(1) and D.C. Circuit Rule 15, that a true copy of the foregoing Petition for Review and attachment was served by U.S. mail and via on this 27th day of March, 2013 on the following: Michael P. Huerta Administrator Federal Aviation Administration Room E Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C (202) michael.huerta@faa.gov