Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Hutchinson Municipal Airport has learned their control tower may soon close, as early as next month.
The April 7th, the tower may be shuttered by the FAA due to cuts in federal funding. Airport Manager Pieter Miller says the closing will mean fewer planes will use the airport.
The closing will have an impact on the city of Hutchinson.
"Fewer operations means fewer fuel sales which means less revenue for the airport which means we might have to rely more on the city general fund."
Hutchinson, along with six other Kansas airport towers, including Garden City's are a part of the FAA contract tower program. A company based in Overland Park operates them. The FAA will close most of the contract towers due to the sequestration.
Unless the FAA can be convinced otherwise, the control towers will be closed next month.
