Hi Sky Mom,

The government is really close to a possible shutdown, although I don’t think they’ll actually do it.. The last time this happened, I was too young to understand what would stop working and what wouldn’t, and anyway, there are some new things in the government since then anyhow like the TSA. I wondered if you would address how a US government shutdown would affect aviation?

Thanks,

Shut Down Drama King

Hello, my curious friend,

The last shutdowns, in 1995 and 1996, sent some 800,000 federal workers home. We find ourselves on the cusp of another round of possible government shut downs in 2011 as the budget battles burn. Since aviation in the US is highly dependent upon the work of multiple government agencies (as indeed, it is everywhere), the questions about what we can expect in case of a shut down are timely and valid. The answers vary depending upon which part of the aviation world you're curious about:

We’ve been assured that “essential” services will remain functioning, but as “essential” has the potential to mean different things to different people, a little clarification is certainly in order. Air traffic controllers will still come to work in the towers and Tracons, so you can still do that voodoo that you do so well. The TSA, sadly, will still show up to grope us as well, but perhaps not in full force. They’ve been refusing to comment on specifics, but they’ve insinuated that they might not be skulking at security checkpoints in quite their usual numbers. In the interest of security, they refuse to be any more specific. Passport processing (in terms of new applications) will cease as it did the last time, but customs workers at airports will continue to be on duty, so never fear; as long as you’ve already got your passport, you’re good to go. The folks driving fire trucks and ambulances will still be ready to roll in case of a truly bad day but they may, in some cases, be operating with the minimum number of employees ready to rush to your aid.

And our friends at the Federal Aviation Administration? The FAA will continue to be helpful, albeit not in all the usual, REALLY helpful ways ;)  The FSDOs (Flight Standards District Offices) will remain open with a skeleton staff. They plan to maintain surveillance (accident response, monitoring of part 121 and 135 operators). General observation of stupid pilot tricks will continue to be noted, though they’ll wait until the government is back up and running to instigate actions against any pilots committing violations. Check rides provided by the feds? Probably not considered essential in most cases, though they’ve avoided putting this in writing. Ramp checks? Essential, as are facility checks. Those will still be happening. Pilot certification processing? Non essential. You’ll just have to wait. Ferry permits? Again, non esential. NextGen work? Non essential, and will be halted until the cash starts to flow again. 337s (major repair or alteration approval)? Non essential. Accident response? You better believe they’ll still show up! Accident investigation-beyond what needs to be accomplished after the smoking wreck is hauled away? That can wait. With the potential shut down taking effect over the weekend, we wouldn't be seeing any recognizable changes from the FAA until Monday, in any case.

And obviously, it goes without saying that all of the national museums, including the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on the National Mall and the fantastic Steven S. Udvar-Hazy Center would be closed until this thing gets sorted out. Can't get in the door? Here's what you're missing! And check out these pictures as well.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the political drama plays out, and if the shut down does happen, how severely the curtailment of the services we’ve come to rely on will affect us. Stay tuned! In the meantime, maybe plan on something besides a museum visit this week.

Just in case, OK?

Mom