FAA to close 5 Ga. airport towers, Gwinnett's included

ATLANTA - The Federal Aviation Administration has announced five Georgia airport traffic control towers, including one in Gwinnett County, are slated to close because of automatic spending cuts.

Federal officials Friday released a list of 149 contract towers that will be impacted by the spending cuts. The list includes the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany, Ben Epps Airport in Athens, the Gwinnett County Airport at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon, and McCollum Field in Kennesaw.

In a statement, American Association of Airport Executives and U.S. Contract Tower Association representatives say the closures raise safety, efficiency and economic concerns federal officials have failed to consider.

FAA officials say the closures are scheduled to begin April 7 and will be executed over the course of four weeks.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/3/259665