City Pleased with Move to Fund Control Towers

TYLER — City of Tyler leaders are very pleased that TxDOT’s moving forward with a bid to fund control towers of 13 airports about to lose federal funding — including Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. City Engineer Carter Delleney told KTBB, “The city of Tyler feels it’s great news. This is obviously a very prudent measure on the part of TxDOT.”

The state transportation department announced Thursday that it intends to fund continued service of air traffic controllers when federal funding goes away as a result of sequestration, or budget cuts. That’s according to a TxDOT news release via KETK. TxDOT’s action is pending Texas Transportation Commission approval and will be acted upon in an emergency session next week. Delleney says he’s optimistic the commission will keep the Tyler control tower open.

“Safety is the primary reason we felt a need to take immediate action for the air travelers and business aircraft that use these airports,” said Commissioner Fred Underwood, Texas Transportation Commission. “I am proud of our leaders for taking this extraordinary measure to ensure that those relying on these municipal airports will be able to depart and arrive safely and efficiently.” TxDOT executive director Phil Wilson added, “Flying is an integral part of commerce in Texas. Local communities are counting on these airports to remain open for continued economic success.”

When automatic budget cuts from the federal government went into effect last month, Texas regional airports were caught in the cross hairs and were scheduled to lose funding for air traffic control service positions beginning April 7. Had this funding not been considered, officials say a degradation of safety in those flight operations could have occurred.