FAA Lists ATC Control Towers to Be Axed

Isabel Goyer

Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 01:44 AM ET

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Oshkosh Control Tower

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has announced the closure of 149 contract air traffic control towers by April 7 due to sequester budget cuts, representing a third of the nation's 515 towers.
These closures significantly impact General Aviation (GA) operations, affecting key airports such as Wittman Regional (Oshkosh) and Lakeland Linder Regional (Sun 'n Fun), and numerous facilities in states like Florida and Maryland.
Aviation organizations, including AOPA and NBAA, have expressed strong disappointment and concern that these closures, some involving recently built towers, will compromise aviation safety.

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The FAA published on Friday afternoon a list of the contract air traffic control towers that will close by April 7. The list is extensive and includes a number of iconic airports that are traditionally important to GA.

These include the tower at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual air show. Also on the hit list is the tower at Lakeland Linder Regional, home to the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in. According to our sources, Sun ‘n Fun is actively working to ensure the tower is open and operating for the air show, which starts the day after the tower closure is scheduled to take effect.