Local

FAA Delays Closure of Local Air Traffic Control Towers

April 8th, 2013

The Federal Aviation Administration has pushed back the date for the closure of more than 140 U.S. air traffic control towers. That includes those at the Cobb County Airport – McCollum Field and Gwinnett County Airport – Briscoe Field.

Both were scheduled to close on May 5 as part of sequestration, but are now slated for shutdown on June 15. Cobb officials are pleased and hope the delay will lead to the Airport tower remaining open permanently. Karl Von Hagel manages Cobb’s airport.

“My hope is that congress, the executive branch and the FAA can all come to a solution that still meets the goals of sequestration, but doesn’t hit at the heart of the aviation system by closing 30 percent of the air traffic control towers in the country.”

If Cobb’s tower closes in June, the airport will continue operating.

But pilots will have to coordinate landings and takeoffs with each other rather than relying on the control tower. Von Hagel believes that would reduce the margin of safety, slow down air traffic and likely cost the airport a significant amount of money because a number of corporate jets might choose to land elsewhere.

In a statement, Gwinnett County officials say “It is unclear what impact the closure will have on flight operations. Gwinnett County regrets that the FAA did not grant a waiver with our appeal, but we are hopeful that this is not a permanent or long-term situation.”

The statement goes on to say, “Gwinnett County reaffirms a continued commitment to maintaining all other safety and operational aspects at the airport beyond the Air Traffic Control Tower.”