Sequester impact: Air traffic towers closed in Waukegan, Kenosha, Gary.

WASHINGTON–Forced federal spending cuts will close air traffic towers in Waukegan, Kenosha, Wisc. and Gary, Ind. starting April 7–victims of the process called “sequestration”– the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday.

Release from the FAA: “Today, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reached the decision that 149 federal contract towers will close beginning April 7 as part of the agency’s sequestration implementation plan. The agency has made the decision to keep 24 federal contract towers open that had been previously proposed for closure because doing so would have a negative impact on the national interest.

“…We heard from communities across the country about the importance of their towers and these were very tough decisions,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Unfortunately we are faced with a series of difficult choices that we have to make to reach the required cuts under sequestration.”

“We will work with the airports and the operators to ensure the procedures are in place to maintain the high level of safety at non-towered airports,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.”

Full details from the FAA: HERE.