Martin State Airport Seeks Federal Cooperation

Middle River's Martin State Airport is one of five Maryland airports seeking to retain federal funding for its control towers against the pressures of the sequestration budget, Fox 45 reports.

In addition to Martin State, Frederick Municipal Airport, Easton/Newnam Field Airport, Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Airport and Hagerstown Airport are in jeopardy of losing their control towers as of April 1, according to The Baltimore Sun.

With the sequester in effect, agencies across the country are preparing for belt-tightening as a result of the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the airline industry would take a $600 million hit, according to General Aviation News. Specifically, the general aviation industry is positioned to suffer without towers at some airports, the report stated.

Martin State is a hub for general aviation, or smaller, noncommercial flights. It is home to 143 single-engine planes, 24 multiengine planes, 13 jets, 7 helicopters and 24 military aircrafts.

According to Fox 45, the Federal Aviation Administration must determine by March 18 whether to continue funding control towers at Martin State and the four other Maryland airports.

Airports could still function but safety would be compromised without control towers, according to the Frederick News-Post.

See Also:

• FAA Planning for $600 Million in Spending Cuts (FAA)
• GOP Lawmakers Decry FAA Sequester Furlough Notices (The Hill)
• Maryland Airports Make Plea to Keep Control Towers (Frederick News-Post)
• FAA Sequestration Cuts Not Safe or Sensible (General Aviation News)
• Sequester Could Close Towers at Five State Airports (The Baltimore Sun)