Politics & Government
Waukesha County Airport Traffic Control Tower Could Close April 7
Waukesha County officials are concerned about the cuts, which would leave the third busiest airport in Wisconsin without an air traffic controller, because of safety and economic reasons.
The Waukesha County Airport/Crites Field traffic control tower could cease operations April 7 due to federal budget cuts.
Airports in La Crosse, Janesville, Oshkosh, Milwaukee (Timmerman), Kenosha, Eau Claire and Mosinee could also lose air traffic control funding, according to USA Today.
Waukesha is the third busiest airport in Wisconsin. Airport General Manager Kurt Stanich told Waukesha Now the airport has 60,000 takeoffs and landings a year, adding the cuts are “unnecessary.”
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"It would be a huge blow to air traffic safety," Stanich told Waukesha Now. "It's unfortunate, because they are essential."
- See related: The transformation of the Waukesha County Airport
Waukesha County Supervisor Michael Crowley, is also against the cuts to the Waukesha County Airport. About 200 aircrafts are based at the airport and contribute about $80 million to the local economy, he said in a letter to the editor.
Find out what's happening in Waukeshafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The loss of the control tower at Waukesha County Airport will mean a significant reduction in quality service to our corporate and recreational pilots,” Crowley said in the letter. “Aviation and public safety must not be compromised.”
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