NEWS: Casar, Castro, & Cuellar Urge Safe Staffing for San Antonio’s FAA Radar System

SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressmen Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration urging them to correct the inadequate staffing levels of the San Antonio System Support Center, which is currently served by only one full-time technician to maintain the FAA radar systems serving the area. 

In 2022, there were four technicians servicing the area, with some assigned to one facility permanently. Currently, one technician must service three long range radar sites located in Hallettsville (120 miles east of San Antonio), Rocksprings (140 miles west of San Antonio), and Oilton (204 miles south of San Antonio).

During severe weather, an inoperable radar system can lead to further flight delays or cancellations for San Antonio residents and visitors. In addition to tracking flights, the radar system is also used by the U.S. Department of Defense to identify other flying objects, including drones and missiles. 

“The situation in San Antonio is a prime example of where the FAA should mitigate staffing shortages by hiring, training, and certifying technical staff to be ready to assume those critical radar maintenance duties as technicians retire,” the members wrote in the letter. “Given that air travel has resumed to pre-pandemic levels, it is important that this vital equipment is maintained and fully operational to ensure a safe and efficient air traffic control system.” 

“Our union represents these FAA employees in San Antonio,” said Dave Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. “We have been in discussions with the agency about the critical understaffing in Texas and elsewhere for years. PASS applauds the efforts of Rep. Casar, Rep. Castro and Rep. Cuellar to address this critical issue before there is a disruption to air travel.” 

Read the full letter here. 

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Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.