Kissimmee Gateway Airport control tower, once slated for closure on account of sequestration (automatic spending cuts), will remain open, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday.
The Kissimmee Gateway Airport’s control tower was initially among several Florida airport towers to be closed, when the FAA released its list last month. Gateway is one of only 24 facilities nationwide that was spared and in early April, 149 towers nationwide, will be closed.
While it is not entirely clear why Gateway was spared, Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-09), airport officials and other stakeholders sprung into action to keep the airport open. Two letter were sent to the FAA officials detailing the impact of the facility’s closure and the need for continuing the operations.
“I am extremely pleased to see the FAA recognize the national importance of Kissimmee Gateway Airport in choosing to keep this facility open,” Grayson said in a statement. “Thanks to our work with airport stakeholders and the FAA, the control tower has been spared from devastating sequestration cuts. This facility will continue to serve the Greater Orlando area, 125 airport employees will keep their jobs, and Central Floridians can rest assured that their airspace is safe and secure.”
Several airport towers in Florida remain on the FAA’s list. These include: Boca Raton, New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, Ormond Beach, Northeast Florida Regional and Lakeland Linder Regional, among others.
