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.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 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.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:51:06 GMT
Attorney William Grant is representing the family of Jamie Seeger. Grant says they want answers on why Seeger did not have protection as a confidential informant for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. To the left of Grant is Wendy Moore, Seeger's mother
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 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.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:01:00 GMT
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
Thursday, June 20 2013 1:13 AM EDT2013-06-20 05:13:50 GMT
An Indiana mother's attempt to get a graduation cake for her daughter turned into a humorous viral photo. The cake was supposed to feature a graduation "cap" on top of the photo of her daughter, but
An Indiana mother's attempt to get a graduation cake for her daughter turned into a humorous viral photo. The cake was supposed to feature a graduation "cap" on top of the photo of her daughter, but
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.
