Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg is one of two airports that could be hit by budget cuts.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland and Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg may both be hit by the federal budget cuts known as sequestration. The Federal Aviation Administration sent letters more than 100 airports this week, letting officials know their air traffic control towers may be closed.
"Something like this has never happened before," said Gene Conrad, airport director at Lakeland Linder.
Conrad said the airport has until March 13th to send a letter to FAA, detailing why the air tower should remain open. The tower must have some national interest to remain operational. Lakeland Linder has been used by FEMA as a logistical staging area during hurricanes. It also hosts Sun 'N Fun every year, which is one of the largest aviation events the country.
Conrad said he thinks closing air traffic control towers around the country is a safety issue.
"Our analogy that we like to use is, if you took a busy intersection in anybody's town and you pulled out all the stop lights, and the following day you just had up stop signs, that's what we're dealing with," he explained.
The possible cuts won't impact this year's Sun 'N Fun, though. Event President John Leenhouts said the FAA usually sends 50 air traffic controllers to help with the event, but he's not sure if they'll be coming this year.
"We're in a limbo area at this very moment," Leenhouts said.
But organizers are planning on ways to work around it, if needed. Leenhouts said they're already recruiting replacement air traffic controllers. So, for visitors on the ground, the show will go on.
"To the people who come here, it'll be completely transparent," Leenhouts said.
Airports with traffic control towers on the list should know my March 18th if their towers will be closed.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:59 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:59:54 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:50:46 GMT
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:20:38 GMT
Three Bartow High School students are accused of breaking into the city middle and high school. Police said they began investigating a series of school burglaries on Monday. Investigators said the
Three Bartow High School students are accused of breaking into the city middle and high school. Police said they began investigating a series of school burglaries on Monday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:59 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:59:54 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:46 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:46:51 GMT
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:09 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:09:00 GMT
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:17:54 GMT
A military widow wants to know why another woman's name is engraved on her husband's headstone. The woman discovered the mistake while visiting her husband's grave at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
A military widow wants to know why another woman's name is engraved on her husband's headstone. The woman discovered the mistake while visiting her husband's grave at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
Tuesday, June 4 2013 7:25 PM EDT2013-06-04 23:25:23 GMT
A 72-year-old Myrtle Beach man was charged after police said he ran over a duck and her ducklings on purpose with his BMW. According to a police report, Robert Allen Willard
A 72-year-old Myrtle Beach man was charged after police said he ran over a duck and her ducklings on purpose with his BMW. According to a police report, Robert Allen Willard
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:54:00 GMT
An image displaying what appears to be a pair of hairy legs has gone viral on the web. According to Buzzfeed.com, the image was first spotted on Sina Weibo, a popular social media website in China. The
An image displaying what appears to be a pair of hairy legs has gone viral on the web. According to Buzzfeed.com, the image was first spotted on Sina Weibo, a popular social media website in China. The
Monday, June 17 2013 6:40 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:40:17 GMT
The Vigo Importing Company has been bringing exotic products to Tampa for years. The warehouse facility of off Hillsborough Avenue is filled with all kinds of delicious things to eat.
The Vigo Importing Company has been bringing exotic products to Tampa for years. The warehouse facility of off Hillsborough Avenue is filled with all kinds of delicious things to eat.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:22 AM EDT2013-06-18 10:22:06 GMT
Troy Petro and his fishing buddy fell overboard "like rockets." Those were Petro's words as he stood barefoot at the St. Petersburg Marina Tuesday, feeling lucky he wasn't hurt.
Troy Petro and his fishing buddy fell overboard "like rockets." Those were Petro's words as he stood barefoot at the St. Petersburg Marina Tuesday, feeling lucky he wasn't hurt.
Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg is one of two airports that could be hit by budget cuts.
