Tucson's Ryan Airfield faces closure of its contract air-traffic control tower in early April unless it can make a good case to regulators that keeping it open is in the national interest.
The Tucson Airport Authority has received a letter from federal regulators saying Ryan is among 189 smaller airports that face closure of their contract air-traffic control towers due to looming sequestration cuts.
From the Arizona Daily Star
Tower at Tucson's Ryan Airfield closer to shutdown
Local aviation officials have said that closing Ryan would jeopardize safety, noting that Ryan is a valuable reliever to Tucson International Airport and features advanced landing-approach technology. Without a tower, pilots will have to coordinate takeoffs and landings themselves via radio and visual contact.
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