Delivering Boeing 737s through sequestration

The FAA announced last week that it could cut air traffic controllers from more than 100 small airports around the country to achieve $600 million in cuts.

The Renton Airport is on that potential list. How will that impact Boeing?

The last thing Boeing needs right now with its Dreamliner fleet grounded is for its most popular plane to be caught up in this sequestration debate.

Every 737 built by Boeing uses the Renton Airport to fly from the factory to Boeing Field and then off for delivery. The Renton factory is now producing 38 of the planes each month.

So if the FAA cuts the tower at the airport, will Boeing be able to fly its planes out of the factory?

The answer is yes.

Losing tower control does not prevent pilots from using the airport. They can use their judgement to take off and land, just like they would at small air strips where there are no towers. It doesn’t matter if they’re flying single-engine planes, 737’s with only pilots on-board or planes with passengers.

So if you hear or see it reported that the FAA plans to close these airports as part of sequestration, realize that’s not accurate.

The runways will be open. There just won’t be any air traffic control.