Due to sequestration cuts, the Federal Aviation Administration has a decision to make which small to medium airport control towers to close.
Losing over $600 million in funding, the agency released a list in February of almost 200 air traffic control towers nationwide that could potentially be closed. The tower managers had until last week to submit arguments to keep the towers opens.
The closures were supposed to be announced Monday. FAA officials said they were overwhelmed by responses from the airports on the list, that's why they postponed the final announcement till Friday March 22.
Lakeland Linder in Lakeland and Albert Whitted in St. Petersburg are on the list to face a possible closure. Lakeland Linder's airport director Gene Conrad thinks this potential sequestration cut may become a safety threat.
"This is definitely a safety issue," he said. "Our analogy that we like to use is basically is you took a busy intersection in anybody's town and you pulled out the stop lights and you just had stop signs up, that's what we're dealing with."
Lakeland Linder hosts Sun-n-Fun Fly-in international fly-in and expo. Its air traffic control tower becomes one of the busiest ones in the country the first week of April.
If closed, the towers can be outsourced and operated independently but that would require large investments. The airport managers told us, they didn't have the money to do this.
The will learn Friday March 22 if these towers stay open.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:40 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:40:25 GMT
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Friday night at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road in Largo.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that occurred Friday night at 119th Street just south of Ulmerton Road in Largo.
Friday, May 24 2013 7:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:08:07 GMT
A detention deputy overheard the man accused of killing two Tampa police officers refer to himself as a child molester and say he repented for killing five people, according to court documents
A detention deputy heard the man accused of killing two Tampa police officers refer to himself as a child molester and say he repented for killing five people, according to court documents.
Friday, May 24 2013 3:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:34:55 GMT
The military arm of the Better Business Bureau, BBB Military Line, reminded of possible scams targeting the active and retired military personnel and elderly veterans before the Memorial Day. Karen Nalven,
The military arm of the Better Business Bureau, BBB Military Line, reminded of possible scams targeting the active and retired military personnel and elderly veterans before the Memorial Day. Karen Nalven,
Friday, May 24 2013 12:13 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:13:39 GMT
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Friday, May 24 2013 12:13 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:13:39 GMT
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:57 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:57:07 GMT
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
Friday, May 24 2013 3:26 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:26:57 GMT
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez closed on the sale of his Miami Beach home on Friday morning. The baseball icon sold his North Bay Road home for $30-million dollars. The sale is among the
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez closed on the sale of his Miami Beach home on Friday morning. The baseball icon sold his North Bay Road home for $30-million dollars. The sale is among the
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:53 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:53:43 GMT
A wealthy Sarasota retiree was tired of air travel options in Sarasota, so he decided to fix the problem the only way he knew how- he's starting 'Sunrise Airlines.'
A wealthy Sarasota retiree was tired of air travel options in Sarasota, so he decided to fix the problem the only way he knew how- he's starting 'Sunrise Airlines.'