WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nationwide, as many as 173 air traffic control towers could close on April 7, 2013, as a result of the sequestration cuts by the federal government.
Air traffic control “contract” towers in the Midwest slated for closure on April 7, 2013, include Anoka-County Blaine (KANE) in the Twin Cities, and St. Cloud, Minnesota (KSTC).
Towers operated by the Federal Aviation Administration, such as Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (KFCM), Minneapolis-Crystal Airport (KMIC), and St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP) may be spared for the time being because the controllers union requires one-year notification before layoffs, but hours of operation could be affected.
At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport, there may be reduced staffing, and Milwaukee Mitchell, and Lansing and Willow Run, Michigan airports, may be among 72 towers nationwide to eliminate overnight controller shifts.
Other air traffic control towers that could close in Wisconsin include Eau Claire, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Mosinee, Oshkosh and Waukesha.
Michigan airports on the list are Ann Arbor, W.K. Kellogg in Battle Creek, Coleman A. Young in Detroit, Jackson County-Reynolds Field in Jackson, Muskegon County, and Sawyer International in Marquette County.
For additional possible tower closings and reduced shifts in the Midwest, refer to Yasmina Platt’s AOPA Regional Report on page 16.