FAA Begins RCO Decommissioning

On September 3, the FAA began its first wave of remote communications outlet (RCO) shutdowns across the country. 674 RCOs are ultimately set to be decommissioned, with 262 outlets retained to maintain adequate flight service coverage across the country.

The decision to retain 262 outlets is a departure from the FAA’s original plan to eliminate the entire network of RCOs, excluding those in Alaska. After a substantial number of public comments, including joint comments submitted by EAA, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and Vertical Aviation International (VAI), as well as the completion of additional safety risk assessments, the FAA revised its proposal. The remaining network of 262 outlets will provide coverage comparable to current levels while eliminating RCOs where there is sufficient overlap from other frequencies and those experiencing the lowest utilization.

EAA will continue to support the availability of a sufficient network of RCOs until an alternative replacement which provides an equivalent level of service to airspace users is available. A list of RCOs set to be decommissioned as well as a coverage map of the remaining RCO service volumes can be found on the FAA’s Flight Service website.