DEAR EDITOR:

The recent announcement by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to modernize air traffic control is a promising plan to solve critical safety and infrastructure issues throughout the country. In the Mahoning Valley, aviation is more than a means of travel — it’s a key driver of our regional economy. Our airports help connect manufacturers to customers and suppliers, support emergency services and draw investment to northeast Ohio.

The proposal to expand controller hiring, replace aging infrastructure and enhance safety protocols represents smart, timely reform. These improvements will benefit the manufacturing companies and businesses that rely on efficient air transportation for operations, client meetings and supply chain management.

Aviation infrastructure supports thousands of jobs across the Mahoning Valley. It’s how we keep our region competitive and connected to national markets. Any change that introduces new barriers or sidelines regional communities risks undercutting important economic development opportunities.

From the standpoint of the military and the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, the air traffic control tower at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport must not only remain but be modernized to ensure the continued operation of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, home to the 910th Airlift Wing.

The airport and the reserve station share a deeply interdependent relationship — without the airport, there is no airbase; without the airbase, there is no airport. The reserve station is one of the Mahoning Valley’s top employers, providing jobs for approximately 2,200 people and serving as a pillar of regional economic and security infrastructure.

Secretary Duffy’s plan focuses on the improvements needed. Now it’s up to Congress to keep that momentum focused on the right priorities — modernization, safety, and equitable access — while steering clear of risky proposals that could sideline regions like ours.

Let’s make real progress — without leaving regional voices behind.

GUY COVIELLO

President and CEO

Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber