Hudson Continues Advocacy for Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
December 13, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2018
Hudson Continues Advocacy for Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support the contract tower program and ensure Concord-Padgett Regional Airport receives the necessary Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants:
“The impact of Concord-Padgett Regional Airport on our economy and community can’t be overstated,” said Rep. Hudson. “You can count on me to continue to support our airport and push for new opportunities.”
“Concord-Padgett Regional Airport appreciates Congressman Hudson’s commitment in supporting the Federal Contract Tower Program,” said Dirk B. Vanderleest, C.M., Aviation Director at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport. “The airport is responsible for all acquisition and maintenance equipment, and these funds are critical to our continued success. The airport is one of the keys to economic growth in the City of Concord and Cabarrus County. “
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport is one of 256 airports in the country that participates in the federal contract tower program. This year’s FAA reauthorization includes a provision, Section 152, which authorizes the FAA to provide AIP grants from the small airport fund to an airport participating in the contract tower program for the purpose of constructing an air traffic control tower and for the acquisition and installation of related equipment. Recently, the U.S. Contract Tower Association spoke to the FAA about this provision and felt it was necessary for congressional input to encourage the immediate implementation of this critical improvement.
To read the letter, click here.
Rep. Hudson meets with former Mayor Scott Padgett and former City Manager Brian Hiatt at Concord Regional Airport. (August, 2014)
In Congress, Rep. Hudson has been a tremendous leader who gets things done for the Concord-Padgett Regional Airport and our local community. In 2013, when the Obama Administration announced it would close the Concord regional tower, he immediately got to work with his colleagues, stakeholders, appropriate agencies and local officials to stop it.
“There are other lower priorities, including waste, that ought to be cut before you cut the control tower at Concord Airport,” Hudson said, adding that he is meeting with local officials to talk about a strategy to restore the funding.
Hudson said in addition to Cabarrus and Concord officials, he’s working on a letter to the FAA with Congressman Mel Watts that they’re hoping Sen. Kay Hagan and Sen. Richard Burr will sign onto as well.
“We’re working together to make sure we put forth our best argument,” Hudson said. “We think they may have made a mistake.”
Local leaders, lawmakers rally to save Concord airport tower, Concord Independent Tribune, March 7, 2013
He introduced legislation with two other members to stop the FAA from closing the air traffic control towers.
A trio of lawmakers in the House has filed a bill to stop the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from closing nearly 150 air traffic control towers this summer.
The bill, filed by Reps. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), and Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), requires the FAA to cancel its plans to make its sequester budget cuts by closing 149 flight control towers.
Bill to block flight tower closures filed in House, The Hill, April 10, 2013
He was successful in preventing the devastating cuts to contract control towers at our regional airports.
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said the airport tower in his district, at Concord, was the third busiest in the state. It’s also the airport that most NASCAR teams use. Without a tower, they’d have to move to Charlotte, increasing congestion there. Also, Concord serves as an overflow and emergency option for Charlotte.
The bill that passed Friday will give the Department of Transportation "plenty of money to restore those towers," Hudson said, adding that he didn’t believe that the department really needed help.
"It doesn’t make sense, so I think they were playing games,” the congressman said. “So what we’re doing is calling their bluff.”
Congress moves to ease air travel delays, then heads for airport, Miami Herald, April 27, 2013
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said the bill gives the agency the flexibility to keep the towers open.
"I would encourage the secretary to do that for the safety and for the economy of our local communities," he said.
Dreaded furlough-caused flight delays coming to an end, USA Today, April 27, 2013
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