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.”
"It would be a huge blow to air traffic safety," Stanich told Waukesha Now. "It's unfortunate, because they are essential."
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.
“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.”
American Landscape - Vernon
2:24 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
So what? I should pay for the airport that I would never use? If you can't afford it get rid of it.
Annie Nominous
2:31 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Wow, American Landscape...have you no idea how important Crites field is to the area? Just because you are not directly impacted does not mean the airport should be deemed irrelevant! Corporate jets utilize this airport big time, which have a positive effect on the area's economy, let alone all of the private aircraft users. Think outside of yourself, please. If the area economy is healthy, in part because of a strategic airfield, then all of the citizens (including you) benefit. Economics 101.
Nuitari
7:25 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Strategic airfield? Unlikely. I thought this place was shut down years ago.
G
9:40 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
@Annie Nominous - Well said, thank you. Economic benefit aside, flying is a lot safer when there's a tower watching you. Air traffic controllers keep aircraft separated, which helps prevent collisions. Imagine if every stop light in a city were replaced with a "yield" sign, leaving drivers to figure it out amongst themselves. (Sincerely, a private pilot based out of Waukesha)
Nuitari
2:27 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
*Not federal budget cuts.
Annie Nominous
12:36 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Nuitari writes, "Strategic airfield? Unlikely. I thought this place was shut down years ago."
Really? The third busiest airfield in WI is irrelevant because Nuitari says so? Wow...how about facts before opinions. Think before you write.
Impeach Now
7:11 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Oh brother...*rolling eyes*...here we go...the blue fisters are taking heed to "daddy's" words to make as many cuts as possible and as deep as possible to "show" those rethuglicans and reichwingers how this is all thier fault...guess "daddy" doesn't know that we know that it was his idea and his signature...doh!...close it...my constitutional rights are important too...but they don't care about that...so i don't care about something i don't need either...