FAA Mulls Fate of Martin State Air Traffic Control Towers

By Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will confirm whether more than 100 control towers it said would close as a result of federal budget cuts under sequestration are going to shutter, according to The Daily Times.

The decision was expected March 18 but the FAA reportedly said in letters to airport officials that it received so many appeals that its verdict was stalled.

Martin State Airport was among five airports in Maryland whose air traffic control towers the FAA said could close if the sequestration budget went into effect. The sequester began March 1.

In its letter to airport officials, the FAA said that it was interested in identifying those locations that were of "national interest" before revising its list, the Cecil Whig reported.

Several airports around the country—including in New York and Kentucky—have made the case that they host military activities essential to national security and should not be closed.

Martin State houses Maryland State Police helicopters and the Maryland Air National Guard.

In fact, the Middle River airport was among those that submitted a waiver to the FAA, Jonathan Dean, spokesman for the Maryland Aviation Administration, told Patch Wednesday.

On March 21, the FAA will release a list of air traffic control towers it plans to close. The closures will go into effect April 7.

See Related:

• Martin State Airport Seeks Federal Cooperation
• Sequester Could Close 5 Regional Control Towers (Capital News Service)
• Air Traffic Facilities that Could be Closed (FAA)