Mississippi losing 7 air traffic control towers - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Mississippi loses 7 air traffic control towers

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Hawkins Field control tower Hawkins Field control tower
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JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

Seven air traffic control towers in Mississippi are among 173 scheduled to be closed nationwide in early April, as the Federal Aviation Administration shuts off funding for those services.  

The shutdowns are part of the FAA's move to reduce spending by $600 million under automatic federal budget cuts known as sequestration. They affect mostly small and medium sized airports.

Mississippi airports on the list are:

  • Tupelo
  • Bay St. Louis
  • Columbus
  • Greenville
  • Hawkins Field at Jackson
  • Meridian
  • Olive Branch 

The FAA says it will review its list of airports that have fewer than 150,000 total operations and fewer than 10,000 boardings.  

The move means Air Force training aircraft from Columbus will be unable to stop in Tupelo for fuel because regulations prevent them from flying into airfields without control towers.

Copyright 2013 MS News Now. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this story.