Nashua Airport Tower's Days are Numbered

Despite a "Save Our Tower" campaign via the Nashua Airport website spearheaded by Airport Director Don Davidson, an online petition, and the support of our New Hampshire Congressional delegation, the FAA on March 22 announced that Nashua Airport remained on the list of airport tower closures, effective April 7.

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau said the decision makes no sense, especially in light of the recent $23 million investment in the airport by the FAA.

"Nashua has been so fortunate to have this airport, and we recognize its value – as did the FAA when they invested all those dollars in the airport, in expanding the runway. Six months ago we were cutting a ribbon,"  Lozeau said.

"It doesn't make sense to me, after that kind of an investment, when we demonstrated value of airport to the FAA, but this is what happens when you do government by ultimatum, which is what sequestration is, in my opinion," Lozeau said.

The mayor continues to hold out hope that the decision can still be reversed, despite the April 7 closure date issued by the FAA.

"Hopefully we'll be able to overcome this. Our delegation is on board – although they had an amendment proposed [Friday], and they couldn't even get it in for a vote, the president of the Senate wouldn't take it up, which concerns me," Lozeau said.

Some residents have commented on Nashua Patch that the airport only serves "rich CEOs," something Lozeau said "just isn't true."

"I served as an airport authority commissioner back in the day, and it's not a rich man's playground, by any means. This is a working and busy airport that, from way back in early days all the way to today, has served the community," Lozeau said, citing use by flight and helicopter schools and local businesses.

Gordon Jackson, the city's newest member of the Airport Commission, provided this statement to Nashua Patch on the FAA's decision:

The dismantling of the US Air Traffic Control System for the sake of political posturing is a terrible thing to witness.  The loss of millions of dollars of revenue to Nashua, good paying jobs, and safety for our community – and the American public in general - may never be recovered despite the Herculean efforts by Senators Shaheen and Ayotte to avoid closure.  Consider alone, the millions the FAA spends on consultant fees and travel, a small portion of which could salvage our tower at Boire Field, and you get the picture:  logic does not rule the day in Washington D.C.

Nashua Ward 1 Alderman Kathy Vitale, who serves the community in which the airport sits, said the closure decision is 'short sighted' and should be reconsidered.

"I have lived in Nashua since 1993. I have lived with the Nashua Airport in my front yard and have watched the changes that have taken place.  I believe the closing of the tower is short sighted. Closing our tower after spending the amount of money that has been spent on the runway and additional upgrades is an example of the worst of government planning, spending and budgeting. It will have an impact on our community. I hope this decision gets another look," Vitale said in an emailed statement.

Last week NHPR did a piece on what the closure would mean to the controllers who all face unemployment, and points to declining annual traffic which, according to the FAA, have been in steady decline for the past five years, from 102,000 in 2008, down to 55,000 operations last year.

Shortly after the March 22 FAA announcement was made, Congresswoman Annie Kuster released the following statement on the decision to shut down the control tower at Nashua Airport:

“I am very disappointed that Nashua Municipal Airport’s control tower is among those slated for closure next month due to sequestration. Granite Staters shouldn’t have to pay the price for Congress’s failure to compromise. I will continue to urge colleagues in both parties to replace these reckless cuts with a responsible plan that will reduce the deficit, create jobs, and protect middle class New Hampshire families and businesses.”

Announcement from the FAA:

Washington, DC: March 22 the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reached the decision that 149 federal contract towers, including Nashua's Boire Field, will close beginning April 7 as part of the agency’s sequestration implementation plan. The agency has made the decision to keep 24 federal contract towers open that had been previously proposed for closure because doing so would have a negative impact on the national interest.

An additional 16 federal contract towers under the “cost share” program will remain open because Congressional statute sets aside funds every fiscal year for these towers. These cost-share program funds are subject to sequestration but the required 5 percent cut will not result in tower closures.

“We heard from communities across the country about the importance of their towers and these were very tough decisions,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Unfortunately we are faced with a series of difficult choices that we have to make to reach the required cuts under sequestration.”

“We will work with the airports and the operators to ensure the procedures are in place to maintain the high level of safety at non-towered airports,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

In early March, FAA proposed to close 189 contract air traffic control towers as part of its plan to meet the $637 million in cuts required under budget sequestration and announced that it would consider keeping open any of these towers if doing so would be in the national interest.

The national interest considerations included: (1) significant threats to national security as determined by the FAA in consultation with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) significant, adverse economic impact that is beyond the impact on a local community; (3) significant impact on multi-state transportation, communication or banking/financial networks; and (4) the extent to which an airport currently served by a contract tower is a critical diversionary airport to a large hub.

In addition to reviewing materials submitted on behalf of towers on the potential closure list, DOT consulted with the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and conducted operational assessments of each potential tower closure on the national air transportation system.

Some communities will elect to participate in FAA’s non-federal tower program and assume the cost of continued, on-site air traffic control services at their airport (see Advisory Circular AC 90-93A.) The FAA is committed to facilitating this transition.

The FAA will begin a four-week phased closure of the 149 federal contract towers beginning on April 7.

• FAA Contract Tower Cost Share Sites Remaining Open
• FAA Contract Tower Closure List
• FAA Contract Towers Remaining Open

Are you an employee or user of the airport who will be affected by these cuts? Contact Carolyn.Dube@patch.com.