By Fred Childers
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) – The Shreveport Downtown Airport says safety is at stake if federal budget cuts close its control tower.
Stacy Kuba, Manager of the airport, says she is surprised to learn that the Federal Aviation Administration wants to close the control tower.
“This is actually the second busiest airport in the state. It’s much busier than our sister airport,” she says. “I’m extremely surprised. I’m surprised they would go after something that’s so vital to the safety and the efficiency movement of the aircraft here.”
Pilots such as Keith Odom uses the downtown airport two or three times a month for business trips. He shares airspace with Barksdale Air Force Base.
“We definitely hate to lose the tower.”
Kuba has written a letter to the FAA to plead the case for keeping the airport open.
“It’s not just a safety issue. The Shreveport Airport Authority says it’s also an economic impact because, without a tower, the business community is less likely to fly into this airport and spend money in Shreveport.”
Kuba hopes the federal government reconsiders its decision before the airport lands on the final closure list.
http://www.ksla.com/story/21648128/sequester-might-ground-flights-at-shreveports-downtown-airport