MaxShimba
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- Apr 11, 2008
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DETROIT (AP) Some Michigan airports that could be forced to shutter their air traffic control towers or sacrifice midnight shifts are pressing their cases with federal transportation officials to preserve those services.
Six air traffic control towers in the state are among 238 that could close nationwide, and two other airports could eliminate overnight shifts in early April as the Federal Aviation Administration prepares to shut off funding for those services. The shutdowns are the result of the FAA's move to reduce spending by $600 million under automatic federal budget cuts. The FAA cuts affect mostly small- and medium-size airports, though officials predict flights to major cities could have delays.
Officials at some of the airports targeted for tower closings said they expect the airports to remain open but raised concerns about safety and efficiency. The FAA said it will consider keeping some towers open on a case-by-case basis if local authorities can prove its tower closure would "adversely affect the national interest."
Michigan airports on the air traffic control closure list are Ann Arbor, W.K. Kellogg in Battle Creek, Coleman A. Young in Detroit, Jackson County-Reynolds Field in Jackson, Muskegon County in Muskegon and Sawyer International in Marquette County's Sands Township. The towers at the Lansing and Willow Run airports are on the list of 72 nationwide that could close overnight through the elimination of midnight shifts for air traffic controllers.
Read more: FAA could close 6 airport control towers in Mich. - Houston Chronicle
Six air traffic control towers in the state are among 238 that could close nationwide, and two other airports could eliminate overnight shifts in early April as the Federal Aviation Administration prepares to shut off funding for those services. The shutdowns are the result of the FAA's move to reduce spending by $600 million under automatic federal budget cuts. The FAA cuts affect mostly small- and medium-size airports, though officials predict flights to major cities could have delays.
Officials at some of the airports targeted for tower closings said they expect the airports to remain open but raised concerns about safety and efficiency. The FAA said it will consider keeping some towers open on a case-by-case basis if local authorities can prove its tower closure would "adversely affect the national interest."
Michigan airports on the air traffic control closure list are Ann Arbor, W.K. Kellogg in Battle Creek, Coleman A. Young in Detroit, Jackson County-Reynolds Field in Jackson, Muskegon County in Muskegon and Sawyer International in Marquette County's Sands Township. The towers at the Lansing and Willow Run airports are on the list of 72 nationwide that could close overnight through the elimination of midnight shifts for air traffic controllers.
Read more: FAA could close 6 airport control towers in Mich. - Houston Chronicle
