U.S. reps calls for probe into FAA protocols after two fires

The Illinois delegation in Washington is calling for an investigation into the FAA emergency protocols after the alleged actions of a sole employee at the Aurora signal facility managed to cause a nationwide flight disruption last week, saying it was the second area fire to disrupt air traffic.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representatives Tammy Duckworth, Bill Foster, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky and Dan Lipinski — all Illinois Democrats — asked the Department of Transportation Inspector General to launch “an immediate investigation into the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s emergency protocol and mitigation measures at Chicago air traffic control facilities.”

The lawmakers raised questions given that this was the second fire to disrupt air traffic this year.

“Critical safety issues like those experienced in the past year warrant an investigation into the emergency protocol and mitigation practices at Chicago air traffic control facilities and ways the FAA can mitigate fire hazards at some of the nation’s busiest air traffic control centers,” the Illinois members wrote. “Recommended improvements from the review could protect the safety of workers at the Chicago facilities and passengers flying to and from Chicago.”

Here’s text of the letter:

September 29, 2014

The Honorable Calvin L. Scovel III

Inspector General

Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.

7th Floor

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Inspector General Scovel:

We are writing to request an immediate review of emergency and security protocols at Chicago air traffic control facilities. This request comes in response to the fire intentionally set by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract employee at the FAA’s main Chicago air traffic control center in Aurora, Illinois, on September 26, 2014. This incident is the second time since May that a fire at a Chicago air traffic control center resulted in delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights in and out of O’Hare and Midway international airports. These recent outbreaks are of great concern, and we encourage you to ensure adequate protocols, emergency plans, and security measures are in place to help prevent and mitigate the impact of these emergencies.

The high volume of flight traffic and the complexity of the Chicago region’s airspace requires quick, efficient responses when emergencies occur. An Inspector General review of FAA’s practices and policies during these recent events could help prevent similar incidents in the future. Recommended improvements from such a review could protect the safety of workers at the Chicago facilities and passengers flying to and from Chicago. Secondly, we encourage you to evaluate whether the FAA has taken all the steps necessary to improve their emergency response capabilities and mitigation procedures since the closure of the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control building in May.

Critical safety issues like those experienced in the past year warrant an investigation into the practices at Chicago air traffic control facilities. We encourage you to begin this investigation without delay and make recommendations to prevent these incidents from happening as quickly as possible. Thank you for your consideration of this request.