173 Contract Towers Closing

[FastestPA31Ever]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/travel/air-traffic-towers-closing/index.html

Fulton County, my home airport, is on that list. We just got the email today from the airport manager. I'm not politically savvy enough to know if this is all really going to happen, or if it is just the latest in a series of bluffs.

Can anyone see how this is going to work for the many, many, corporate operators who fly out of these types of airports? At FTY there are 5 multi-billion dollar company flight departments - do they have an sway in decision making? Maybe split the $500,000+ per year it takes to keep the tower open?

Very frustrating times.

 

[kf4amu]

Well we know that the administration ordered their agencies to make the cuts as negative and visible as possible, this is just an example.

They have plenty of money to investigate the Harlem Shake on frontier, so I still think they're overfunded.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Then they should close Dulles, that place seems like a VFR only airport anyway

 

[LJ45]

cut from the top down, not the bottom up. Sick of it, nothing but games.

 

[xrated]

KSUN should be a good time during ski season.

 

[LongBoarder]

KSUN should be a good time during ski season.

During ski season? That is the easy time... You should try going in the week after July 4th... Allen and Company come to town and it is a total circus. 50+ gulfstreams parked on the ramp and 3 on approach at any one time.

 

[jmreii]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/travel/air-traffic-towers-closing/index.html

Fulton County, my home airport, is on that list. We just got the email today from the airport manager. I'm not politically savvy enough to know if this is all really going to happen, or if it is just the latest in a series of bluffs.

Can anyone see how this is going to work for the many, many, corporate operators who fly out of these types of airports? At FTY there are 5 multi-billion dollar company flight departments - do they have an sway in decision making? Maybe split the $500,000+ per year it takes to keep the tower open?

Very frustrating times.

Fulton county and some of the other counties maybe busy but moving here from SoCal I find it hard to mistake any of the local airports for KSNA, KVNY, KBUR, KSMO, KPSP, and KSBA.

 

[TRBojet]

One of our frequent airports is losing it's tower (KYKM). I was sent this link to sign a petition to help prevent closing our towers. Please follow the link, create an account and sign it to help benefit us all.

Thanks!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pe...ult-budget-control-act-sequestration/3CsfLn46

 

[TMMT]

They had to spend $1000 per TSA passenger fondler to make them look good... in new uniforms.

 

[rettofly]

They had to spend $1000 per TSA passenger fondler to make them look good... in new uniforms.

With some notable exceptions stipulated... it will take a lot more than $1000 to make them look good.

 

[sleepy]

I bet half of our pilots don't know how to get an IFR clearance at a non-towered airport.

 

[SSDD]

Well here's a hint: The absence of a control tower does not give you the right to make a straight in approach at 250kts when there's other traffic in the pattern

 

[lionflyer]

Well here's a hint: The absence of a control tower does not give you the right to make a straight in approach at 250kts when there's other traffic in the pattern

It does if you're over 600,000lbs! It's written somewhere....I think.

 

[BoilerUP]

"Any traffic in the area, please advise."

 

[rettofly]

"Any traffic in the area, please advise."

Waste of breath. Anybody who would announce probably doesn't need to be asked to do so.

 

[bogi0912]

Well here's a hint: The absence of a control tower does not give you the right to make a straight in approach at 250kts when there's other traffic in the pattern

I would rather make a straight in approach, then fly over head and get into the pattern with single engine pistons that are 100kts slower.

 

[rigger]

Seriously...how will this impact us at all? FTY or any darn place else. Why do we need a tower? In most cases it's easier to get out and in without the tower. (Small airports that is) FTY really cannot justify the tower they simply do not have enough t/o and departures a day. Course it'll now be a pain to deal with dobbins....sighh