Mon, Nov 05, 2007
Now A Class D Airport
With more and more Cessnas buzzing around Independence Municipal
Airport (IDP) -- some of them turbine-powered -- the time was right
to add a control tower to the Kansas facility. On Monday, Cessna
announced the opening of an FAA air traffic control tower providing
services to the new Class D airspace there.
Five controllers staff the tower, which is located at the south
end of Cessna's flight hangar and is operational seven days a week
from 0700 to 1900 local time.
"This is another milestone in the expansion of the Independence
facility," said Rod Holter, Cessna vice president and general
manager, Independence. "With the increase in traffic following the
successful launch of Mustang production here, installing a tower
was the right thing to do for the convenience and safety of our
customers and our employees who fly."
Three commemorative flights were conducted Monday to celebrate
the opening of the control tower. A Cessna Skyhawk 172R -- the
first aircraft produced at the Independence plant -- will perform
the first tower controlled takeoff. The first landing will be
executed by a Citation Mustang. Finally, the first transient
arrival will be made by a CJ2 carrying Holter, Will Dirks, vice
president, Cessna Flight Operations and John Fowler, Cessna senior
facilities specialist along with Independence Mayor Rick Mott and
City Manager Paul Sasse.
It is anticipated the Independence airport will experience in
excess of 50,000 operations annually with the Tower providing
positive traffic control and separation, significantly enhancing
overall airport operational safety.
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