Led by Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, the Massachusetts Delegation today expressed concern with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) planned closure of approximately 200 contract air traffic control (ATC) towers nationwide due to the sequestration budget cuts.  Six of the towers slated for possible closure service Massachusetts airports: Norwood, New Bedford, Lawrence, Beverly, Worcester and Westfield-Barnes.  Collectively, these six towers handle hundreds of thousands of operations annually, accommodating commercial, private, medical and military aircraft and flight services.  

In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the members wrote, “We agree on the need to identify means through which to improve our current fiscal situation. But any such effort should not jeopardize the safety, security and economic well-being of our citizens.  These six ATC towers and others around the country are critical to the continued successful operation of their respective airports and to the regions they serve, and vital to our national interests.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.