FAA could close 6 airport control towers in Mich.

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

FAA could close 6 airport control towers in Mich.
By JEFF KAROUB, AP Business Writer | March 10, 2013 | Updated: March 10, 2013 2:02pm

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: http://www.chron.com/news/article/FAA-could-close-6-airport-control-towers-in-Mich-4342950.php

[matt819]

1. I'm so tired of the would, could, maybe, should, could be, we'll see

Why don't the various agencies state, without equivocation, what will happen, when. No more weasling. That's the only way the current development will mean anything to the workers who are affected, the services that will be affected, and the politicians and their constituencies. I saw another post earlier today that the DOJ sent out letters that it might furlough workers no earlier than 30 days. OK. That's something. But how about something along the lines, "we're going to furlough you on April 5." That has impact. That means something. That gives the affected person or the affected agency a realistic reason to demand action, etc. As long as these mealy-mouthed pronouncements come out, you can almost be inclined to accept some of the RW assertions that the sequester will be a big yawn.

[Major Nikon]

2. I think the air transport piece alone is going to be huge

The companies that insure corporate jets often require them to fly into airports with an active control tower. The closing of control towers means those corporate jets are going to start to migrate to larger airports that still have active control towers. This will happen at the same time that those towers will be short handed. More traffic + less controllers means more congestion and gridlock. I don't think too many will be yawning in a month or so.

[1983law]

4. You win the internets today...

Finally read something that artfully and accurately states what I have been feeling since this instant mess began.

[FarCenter]

3. Only Muskegon and Sawyer have scheduled service, and only a couple flights each.

Scheduled commuter airline service can continue without air traffic controllers -- the pilots coordinate themselves. The airports vary from about 50 to 250 takeoffs and landings per day, mostly executive aircraft, air taxi services, some cargo at Kellogg, and recreational general aviation.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. I don't see this as a problem either

This will be no where as bad at the PATCO strike.

[amandabeech]

8. I use the Muskegon airport to visit my elderly mother.

She lives 45 miles north of the airport and there is no public transport. It is difficult to arrange a ride, and renting a car is expensive.

If Muskegon loses its commuter service to Chicago, I will be forced to fly into Grand Rapids which is 90 miles away, and it is extremely difficult to find anyone who will pick me up and take me back to the airport. Again, there is no public transportation.

K.I. Sawyer serves a large section of the Upper Peninsula, where there is little or not public transportation. I'm not even sure where one could fly to get anywhere close to Marquette.

Marquette and Muskegon are places that have lost a lot of population since 1980, and where many people still living in the area are elderly with working family living far away.

People here dismiss the closure of these towers and probable end of commuter traffic, but it is personal to me and my elderly Mom. It will mean seeing her much less, and I may have to quit working and live in poverty with her if I can't get back regularly.

When I exit the plane in Muskegon there are always elderly people looking waiting for their relatives to come off the plane. I know I'm not alone, and some of your comments seem rather heartless under the circumstances.

[FarCenter]

9. The Grand Rapids airport is only 50 miles from the Muskegon airport

Marquette is in a tougher position, but if you live in a small town of 21,355 people in the middle of nowhere, it is slow or expensive to get to. The nearest larger cities are Sault Ste Marie, Green Bay, and Duluth/Superior.

[amandabeech]

10. Maybe you would have better luck getting a ride for those extra 50 miles,

but it is very difficult for me. People say that they will do it, and then back out, even after I've purchased my tickets to arrive and depart at times convenient for them. I've had no one back out from picking me up in Muskegon. Ever.

I swear that I'd have an easier time getting people to pick me up in Manistee, were that airport offering commuter flights when Muskegon's inevitably end.

I'm already 50-60 miles from Muskegon, and just the traffic around Grand Rapids scares quite a few people (mostly older) who are willing to go to Muskegon.

[felixmtt]

11. Air Traffic Control

Well the scheduled commuters airline service needs the Air Traffic Control. Even though pilots co-ordinate among themselves till the traffic control can be very useful at times.

[GiaGiovanni]

6. In a few years they'll be privatized

That's why the hedge funds are happy about sequestration in general. No shock that the stock market rose to record heights after the sequester went through. There's lots of good public sector pickins that will start to appear as cities go bankrupt.

[FarCenter]

7. Possibly, but it is not clear whether they are economic

Sawyer, for example, is the abandoned KI Sawyer air force base. The real estate would not be particularly valuable, and maintenance is likely to be to expensive to be supported by landing fees and other income.