Spokesman Says Nothing Definitive In The Works Right Now

There is no released list of airports where controls towers may be shut down overnight. That word comes directly from the FAA.

As ANN reported Thursday, the FAA is contemplating the overnight closure of 48 control towers nationwide -- most of them in mid- and smaller-sized cities. Now, ANN has obtained that list of airports, shown below:

• Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
• Abilene
• Atlantic City
• Albany County
• Wilkes-Barre-Scranton
• Bangor
• Birmingham
• Billings
• Boise
• Buffalo
• Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena
• Columbia Metropolitan (CAE)
• Akron-Canton
• Charleston AFB (CHS)
• City of Colorado Springs
• Yeager (CRW)
• Duluth International
• Dupage (DPA)
• Des Moines
• El Paso
• Fairbanks
• Fresno
• Fayetteville Regional (FAY)
• Fort Wayne (FWA)
• Fort Lauderdale Executive
• Spokane
• Piedmont Triad (GSO)
• Tri-State Milton J. Ferguson (HTS)
• Hulman Regional (HUF)
• Capital City (Lansing, Mich.)
• Lubbock
• Blue Grass (LEX)
• Harrisburg International
• Manchester (MHT)
• Eppley Airfield (OMA)
• Greater Peoria Regional (PIA)
• Reno Cannon (RNO)
• Roanoke Regional (ROA)
• Greater Rochester (ROC)
• Springfield (SGF)
• Shreveport Regional (SHV)
• San Juan (SJU)
• Syracuse
• Toledo
• Tucson
• McGhee Tyson (TYS)
• Willow Run (YIP) Michigan
• Youngstown (YNG)

Spokesman Greg Martin told ANN Thursday the agency has said since 1990 that control tower operations have, in some cases, indeed been curtailed during overnight hours. But Martin disavowed any list, saying the FAA doesn't generally discuss mid-level works in progress.

"Saving a few bucks in exchange for severely degrading the margin of safety is a foolish and irresponsible idea," said Doug Church, spokesman for NATCA, the controllers' union.

"It's good to see that (NATCA) hasn't lost its flair for melodrama," said Martin. "There's been no decision made on closing any control towers (during overnight hours)."

Martin said the FAA has a strict set of criteria to follow when deciding to curtail operating hours at control towers. On that list, he said, were conferences with airport officials, members of the local Congressional delegation and the community at large.

In short, Martin said, "Breathe easy." He told ANN no action on closing control towers is imminent.

FMI: www.faa.gov