FROM A FELLOW PILOT....
Dear Pilots-
Margaret Lacey asked me to forward this to all of you.
Mary, I hope you can forward this to all pilot groups you can. This disgraceful behavior by both the DRBA and the FAA has led the employees of Millville to face the end of their jobs in New Jersey 6 to 18 months earlier than they expected, or being forced to move their families to even more expensive locations such as Leesburg, VA or Islip, NY. Additionally, the safety impact of unmanned frequencies throughout New Jersey and Delaware is not even being addressed, or when addressed, lies are being told. (See remarks by DRBA's James Salmon, below) Plus pilots used to getting through to Millville AFSS within a few minutes are now waiting 15 to 30 minutes routinely to get through to briefers who are mostly unfamiliar with their area and have no idea how things such as clearances are picked up here.
The employees of Millville are meeting with Lockheed next Wednesday, the 28th. We would like to make it a public meeting, with pilot groups invited, and possibly press or TV. If anyone would like more information, have them e-mail me and I will give out that information as soon as I get it.
Additionally, October 4 is the start date of Lockheed Martin Flight Service. I urge all pilots in New Jersey to call, and wait and wait and wait and once they get through, ask for a standard briefing. We want Lockheed and the FAA to get the full impact of what they have done by allowing us to close.
Margaret Lacey, once of Millville Automated Flight Service
From the Atlantic City Press:
Millville Airport FAA workers must move to keep jobs
By JOYCE VANAMAN Staff Writer, (856) 825-2303
Published: Friday, September 23, 2005
Updated: Friday, September 23, 2005
The 21 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration at the Flight Service Station at Millville Airport are facing a real dilemma - the new job options issued by Lockheed-Martin would entail moving from Millville.
Lockheed-Martin takes over operation of the local facility Oct. 4.
The facility itself, which is leased to the FAA by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which operates Millville Airport, has been closed since Aug. 23 due to structural damage to the building's roof trusses.
The employees have been paid by the FAA, but have not been able to work.
Ron Consalvo, regional director of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists, said the employees received a letter Thursday from Lockheed Martin about job options that would entail moving by Oct. 10, which he said was not what was in the original plan.
In February, the FAA stated a plan for consolidation, with the Millville facility expected to close sometime between April 2006 and March 2007.
The letter to the employees states, in part: "The unfortunate collapse of the Millville AFSS (Automated Flight Service Station) roof has required Lockheed Martin to adjust our planning in regards to your employment situation. The FAA is currently evaluating alternatives as to what they will do about repairing the facility but, in any case, the facility will not be available for at least 60 days or longer. Therefore, there are no jobs at Millville for the foreseeable future."
The letter includes employment alternatives being offered to all Millville AFSS employees who have accepted Lockheed Martin employment offers as of Sept. 18.
· Permanently transfer to one of 20 sites any time prior to Oct. 10, with a guaranteed three years of employment. The cost of relocating will not be covered by Lockheed Martin unless the employee already has been selected to receive a relocation package to one of the hub locations.
· Take a temporary assignment to an AFSS of the person's choice within the Eastern Service Area. These assignments will last a minimum of 120 days. The employee must report by Oct. 10.
Employment beyond 120 days will be dependent on AFSS operational needs. The cost of relocating will not be reimbursed.
· If the FAA repairs the Millville facility to support in-flight operations, Lockheed Martin will request selected personnel to return to conduct in-flight services. Priority will be given to Lockheed Martin Millville employees who have not selected a permanent transfer to another AFSS location. Millville in-flight services will then continue until consolidated into the Leesburg hub, at which time the Millville facility will close permanently.
"If none of the above options are viable to you and your family, then we will formally withdraw your employment offer to join the Lockheed Martin team," the letter stated.
"There are people who work there who cannot move because of family situations," pointed out Consalvo, who was very distressed with the options.
Employment at the AFSS in Millville has dropped from a high of 69 in the early 1990's to 21 today.
In a news release received earlier Thursday, the Delaware River and Bay Authority said that the DRBA and FAA have been working closely to determine the appropriate course of action concerning the facility's structural problem.
It stated, in part: "The lease between FAA and the DRBA will expire in a little over a year and both parties have questioned the wisdom of what would be an expensive repair to completely replace the existing roof structure with steel beams."
"As of today, no final decision has been agreed to by the parties, although some agreement is expected in the near future," stated James Salmon, DRBA spokesman.
Salmon further emphasized that according to the DRBA's airports director, safety is not being compromised. He said that services that were performed at the Millville AFSS have been transferred to flight service stations in Leesburg, VA., and Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Consalvo, however, said that while the pre-flight services -weather briefings to the pilots by phone - have been transferred, there is no way to transfer the 23 in-flight radio frequencies in New Jersey and Delaware. "That is an aviation safety hazard," Consalvo said.
The current facility opened in January 1987. At that time, the city owned and operated the airport.
