NH Delegation Urges Support of Nashua Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the U.S. Department of Transportation makes decisions about how to implement across-the-board, automatic sequestration cuts, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) along with Representatives Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) and Annie Kuster (NH-2) urged Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to continue air traffic control services at the Nashua Municipal Airport.

Nashua Municipal Airport was recently placed on a preliminary list of air traffic control towers which would be targeted for potential closure beginning April 7 as a result of sequestration.  A final list of affected airports will be released on Monday, March 18.

The letter reads, in part:

“Nashua Municipal Airport is among the most used general aviation facilities in New England and supports a range of commercial, corporate and military flight operations,” the letter said. “We believe that the [airport] plays an important role in the national aviation system as a regional relief destination for more congested facilities and urge you to preserve funding for air traffic control services there.”

The potential closure of the air traffic tower would come only months after the FAA finished work on a $24 million project to upgrade the runway at the airport. The project was designed to improve safety and bring new businesses to the region, but those upgrades could be undermined by the closure of the tower.

The closure would also threaten Nashua’s ability to provide relief for other airports affected by excessive congestion or safety concerns. Last year the FAA classified the Nashua airport as an asset of national importance due to the important role it plays in the safe and efficient functioning of the aviation system in New England and nationally.