FAA Cuts Air Traffic Control Towers in Hagerstown and Frederick
By: Shayna Halper
Updated: March 22, 2013
The waiting and watching -- something air traffic controllers do everyday -- is over for some.
Todd Johnson is an air traffic manager at the Frederick municipal airport, his tower was one of nearly 200 contract towers on the list
for possible closure as a result of sequestration.
"I've been in air traffic control 33 years, since I was 18 years old. Most of us started out in the military. All of us, except for one here, are
veterans and we started out very young, and we don't know anything else. So it's going to be a big shock to everyone to have to go and find something
else," says Johnson.
The Frederick Tower has been in operation for less than a year. Controllers say the tower was originally opened to increase safety
Now
in an effort to save money a government cut-back will close both the Frederick and H
"They
worked 10 years to build this tower and said it was essential to safety
and then we feel like in less than a year we're not essential to
safety anymore," says Johnson.
"I think it's a shame, the government is supposed to be here to protect
and serve, they're not serving anyone by getting rid of these towers,
and they're not protecting anyone," says Christopher Sawn, Air Traffic Control Specialist.
The Hagerstown Regional Airport manager tells us the airport will work with the county to keep their tower open even without FAA funding.
40 towers in the country that were on the list to possibly be cut will remain open. Closures will begin on April 7.
