JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Operations resumed at the Federal Aviation Administration's Jacksonville Center in Hilliard Monday evening hours after its temporary closure.
Officials told First Coast News that operations resumed around 6 p.m. after it was shut down because an employee testing positive for COVID-19; workers had to clean the facility, the FAA said.
Jacksonville International Airport remained open, though some flights may have been rerouted around the airspace or handled by underlying facilities.
The FAA released the following statement:
"The FAA has a robust contingency plan for every air traffic control facility, and remains positioned to quickly address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The agency continually monitors controller staffing and traffic demand, and remains in close contact with airports, airlines and other stakeholders so we can prioritize our resources to meet the greatest demand."
The FAA reports the center had a positive COVID-19 case on Jan. 3.
According to the FAA, every facility has a contingency plan for temporary closures made several years before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While cleaning typically takes place during overnight hours, this is not always the case.
At times, air traffic controllers are able to work in a backup facility.
The FAA sent a statement to First Coast News regarding the temporary closure of the facility:
"The FAA has a robust contingency plan for every air traffic control facility, and remains positioned to quickly address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The agency continually monitors controller staffing and traffic demand, and remains in close contact with airports, airlines and other stakeholders so we can prioritize our resources to meet the greatest demand."