3 Michigan air traffic control towers to close
Posted: 03/22/2013
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Three air traffic control towers in Michigan are among 149 nationwide that will be closed due to federal budget cuts.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that it will close towers at W.K. Kellogg in Battle Creek, Coleman A. Young in Detroit and Sawyer International in Marquette County's Sands Township.
The FAA says the closings only involve airports that used contractors for the towers. Other towers on a preliminary list that came out last month could still be at risk.
All of the affected airports will remain open. Pilots will be left to coordinate takeoffs and landings among themselves over a shared radio frequency with no help from ground controllers. That's something they are trained to do, but airport directors have raised concerns about the potential impact on safety.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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