In case you missed it: The FAA has notified RMMA and issued a NOTAM announcing a temporary change to air traffic control tower hours. Beginning December 28, the tower will operate from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, opening one hour later and closing two hours earlier than normal.
According to the FAA, this adjustment allows them to better align staffing with the busiest daytime periods while they continue to address an extended controller staffing shortage. The FAA expects this temporary schedule to remain in effect for approximately one year, until additional controllers are assigned to RMMA’s airspace.
During this period, the tower will issue a daily ATC Zero NOTAM to reflect day-to-day staffing conditions. The FAA has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe airspace operations, and the Airport supports this change as a safety-focused decision.