FAA to Close 149 Air Traffic Towers Under Cuts, 13 in Texas [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

Source: AP

The Federal Aviation Administration says it will close 149 air traffic control towers at small airports around the country because of federal budget cuts.

The agency announced the decision Friday, a month after it released a preliminary list of facilities that could be closed.

In Texas, 13 towers will close. Two of those towers are in North Texas -- Dallas Executive and Collin County Regional at McKinney. To see a full list of closures, click here.

All of the affected airports will remain open. Pilots will be left to coordinate takeoffs and landings among themselves over a shared radio frequency with no help from ground controllers. That's something they are trained to do, but airport directors have raised concerns about the potential impact on safety.

Read more: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/FAA-to-Close-149-Air-Traffic-Towers-Under-Cuts-13-in-Texas-199584921.html

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List of closures: http://www.faa.gov/news/media/fct_closed.pdf