A House Republican Is Trying to Exempt Oklahoma’s Aviation Academy from Government Shutdowns

The school has trained thousands of the country’s air traffic controllers during a shortage in the workforce, and a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to keep it open at all times.

Frank Lucas

Bill Clark/AP

A member of the House of Representatives is trying to exempt the Federal Aviation Administration Academy in Oklahoma City from any future government shutdowns.

The school churns out thousands of trained air traffic controllers at a time when there’s a national shortage. The legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Lucas would keep the academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center — one of the FAA’s largest facilities — open if funds stopped flowing due to a federal government shutdown and would exempt employees and students employed by the FAA from a furlough.

“In recent times because of the challenges we’ve had with air safety, because of the tragic crashes — think about the near misses — there’s no more important time than now to have a steady stream of capable, talented, well-prepared people to be in those towers,” Lucas, whose district is home to the academy, told NOTUS in an interview.