Fairbanks International Airport’s air traffic control tower will go quiet overnight under a temporary Federal Aviation Administration order. According to the notice, published on Oct. 17, flights will still be able to take off and land overnight — as they do in many other Alaska communities without full-time air traffic control services. Pilots departing and arriving in Fairbanks will also have support from air traffic control staff in Anchorage.
Alaska Airlines spokesman Tim Thompson said in an email that the airline doesn’t expect the closure to significantly affect Fairbanks operations, except in low-visibility conditions.
“Alaska Airlines pilots use the same communication procedures during the ATCT (air traffic control tower) closure hours as they do at other airports with part-time or no ATCTs,” he said.
However, Thompson said the airline strongly supports full-time air traffic control support in Fairbanks for seamless services.
Adam White, a pilot and the government affairs director for the Alaska Airmen’s Association, said the timing is unfortunate, with the arrival of the cold and darkness.
“It will be interesting to see what happens as we get deeper into winter because Fairbanks is very prone to ice fog,” he said.
Part of a larger staffing problem
White said it’s still a safe way to operate, but it’s not ideal. An emailed statement from the FAA statement cites a staffing shortage as the reason for the overnight closure, which will last from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice. White said that’s part of a pattern he’s observed for years.
“You can't just put an ad in the paper and try to find somebody to come in and fill that position,” he said. “The average time frame is about two years from the time somebody starts into the training academy until they get fully certified and working unsupervised in a facility like Fairbanks.”
The FAA says it’s still trying to close its nationwide staffing gap. But in May, the administration cut its hiring target for certified controllers by about 2,000.
In the meantime, White says there are still a few things the airport and the administration can do to ensure crews can continue to do their jobs safely and without delay, which could entail installing pilot-controlled lighting on the runway or improving the local weather reporting system.