Tyler Airport’s Control Tower Tabbed for Closure

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport’s control tower is on a list of towers tabbed for closure in the near future by the FAA. It’s part of federal cost-cutting measures under the sequestration process. The FAA will conduct a four-week phased closure of the 149 federal contract towers April 7. East Texas Regional Airport in Gregg County is not on the closure list. Tyler Pounds Manager Davis Dickson has said the Tyler airport will remain open even without its tower, with air traffic control duties shifted to other area facilities. But The Jet Center of Tyler, located on the old airport grounds, tells KETK it fears it will lose customers who want the control tower in place. And airport officials say the move could back up traffic and could discourage some fliers.