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San Carlos Airport could lose air traffic controllers amid pay dispute

San Carlos Airport traffic controllers could walk off job due to contract dispute
San Carlos Airport traffic controllers could walk off job due to contract dispute 02:16

The San Carlos Airport (SQL) in San Mateo County will no longer have air traffic controllers starting in February following a dispute over pay, officials said.

Airport manager Gretchen Kelly announced Wednesday that the air traffic controllers' last day at the airport will be on Friday. The airport is one of the few in the Bay Area that contracts with an outside company to supply air traffic controllers.

Starting Saturday, the tower will be unstaffed, a condition known to aviators as "ATC Zero."

The airport said the FAA had awarded a new contract for air traffic services to Robinson Aviation (RVA), but the contract had not included locality pay to account for the Bay Area's high cost of living. Air traffic controllers at San Carlos had been under contract from Serco, a private company that provides air traffic control to about 60 U.S. airports.

"They've been in negotiations with RVA to try and work out a deal," airport spokesperson David Howard said  

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A plane landing at San Carlos Airport (SQL). County of San Mateo

"As a result, RVA's employment offers to current SQL controllers were significantly lower than their current compensation under SERCO. Understandably, all current controllers have declined RVA's offers," Kelly said.

The airport said it is working closely with Rep. Kevin Mullin's office to push the FAA to meet its obligation to provide air traffic services to San Carlos. Airport officials are also "exploring all options" to return air traffic control staffing to Serco or the FAA. 

"To emphasize the critical need for high-quality ATC services at SQL—given our high traffic volume, IFR arrivals/departures, extensive flight training, complex airspace, and proximity to SFO—we encourage you to file FAA Hotline complaints to raise awareness of this urgent issue," Kelly said.

Located near San Francisco Bay about 12 miles south of San Francisco International Airport, San Carlos Airport is home to about 500 aircraft and more than 25 aviation-related businesses.

The county's announcement comes amid renewed concerns about air safety. On Wednesday night, a deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter took place near Washington, DC.

Officials said the jet had been carrying 60 passengers and four crewmembers, while there were three soldiers aboard the helicopter. There were no survivors.

Wednesday's collision was the deadliest major U.S. commercial air crash in the U.S. since 2009.

San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller said the DC plane collision makes the situation at San Carlos more urgent.

 "Every day that those flights are in the air, it's a reminder that that there are skilled professionals every day working to keep people safe in the air," Mueller said. "That the job is difficult, and sometimes there are failures. And so we need, we absolutely need, every single one of them in the right position."

By late Thursday afternoon, Kelly said contract negotiations were trending in a positive direction. 

"We are optimistic there will be no disruptions in air traffic operations at San Carlos Airport," she wrote in a statement.

Kara St. Cyr contributed to this story  

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