In February 2000, Air Traffic and Airways Facilities sent separate teams to Amarillo to determine if we needed a new facility. Both teams recommended that a new Tower/TRACON be built at another location on the airport.
In late March 2000, we learned for the first time that Amarillo was being mentioned in a possible TRACON consolidation along with Abilene, Lubbock and Midland. We were told that the proposed location of this facility was Abilene, and that the region was hoping for funding in FY2004.
In April, while Barry and I were in Anchorage for the NATCA national convention, we received a copy of the FAA Southwest Region 10-year Consolidation Plan. The plan, in fact, did include the proposed West Texas TRACON. We also received a copy of a letter from Mr. Doug Murphy, ASW, Air Traffic division manager, which stated that there were no plans for any consolidation of any facility in the Southwest Region. However, Mr. Murphy also sent Mark a letter that he wrote to FAA headquarters in Washington, which described how successful the region was with TRACON consolidations. One of the projects he sited was the Houston/Beaumont consolidation, which he earlier said was not go to happen.
After returning from the convention, I contacted the Amarillo International, Airport manager, Rich McCollum, and Mayor Kel Seliger to arrange a meeting to discuss this proposal. After a very successful meeting, in which we gained their support opposing the consolidation plan, I contacted Congressman Mac Thornberry’s office, requesting a meeting with him to seek his support in opposing the plan.
A meeting with Congressman Thornberry was arranged for mid-May. Those in attendance at that meeting included Amarillo Mayor Kel Seliger AMA Airport Manager Rich McCollum Mark Pallone NSW RVP Jeff Church, NSW West Texas Legislative coordinator and myself. The meeting was another success. Congressman Thornberry was very concerned about this proposal and stated that he had already drafted a letter to the FAA regarding this issue. As the meeting concluded he stated that he would be very interested in the FAA’s response to him after he had this “new information” in front of him.
One of our members got in contact with the publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News. Later Beth Wilson, a reporter from the paper, contacted me. We spoke over the phone on several occasions, then one day we sat down and discussed the plan. After talking with me, Beth contacted several other people to verify the story. The results of those interviews can be see at:
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/061100/new_airtraffic.shtml
An editorial ran the following Sunday, and
can be viewed at:
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/061800/opi_edit1.shtml
A follow-up story ran on July 2, 2000.
It can be viewed at:
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/070200/new_radarproposal.shtml
Finally, another editorial was printed on
Friday July 7, 2000. It is located at:
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/070700/opi_consolidation.shtml
On Friday July, ??? Mr. Murphy came
to Amarillo to present the facility with the FAA Southwest Region
1999 ATC-7 Facility of the Year Award. An honor that has
been long overdue and greatly appreciated by the entire facility.
Mr. Murphy spoke eloquently about our achievements in 1999, and
then he turned his comments to the consolidation plan.
He stated unequivocally, that was no plan to consolidate Amarillo with any other facility. He went on to say, “I know because I am the one who would make that decision.” He went on to say, “I need facilities like Amarillo, and it would be foolish to ………..”
He also stated that it was his belief that
the only reason that the issue was even being discussed was
because Mark Pallone was running for re-election as NSW RVP.
Later on, during lunch, Mr. Murphy was
overheard saying that if it was going to happen it wouldn’t
happen for at least 10 years.
With Mr. Murphy’s comments in mind a
letter was written and sent to him regarding his stance on
consolidation. We are still awaiting his response.
The West Texas TRACON, myth or reality, only Doug Murphy knows for sure.