Danbury Legislators Take Action To Keep Airport Tower Open

DANBURY, Conn. - Connecticut lawmakers have joined together in a bipartisan group to secure funding for the state's small airport towers, including the one in Danbury.

Sen. Andrew Maynard (D-Stonington), U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Toni Boucher (R-Wilton), Sen. Scott Frantz (R-Greenwich), and Sen. Michael McLachlan (R-Danbury), speak about finding funding the Danbury Airport tower.
Photo Credit: *Contributed by Sen. Michael McLachlan Office*

by Alissa Smith

05/14/2013 2:30 p.m.

On May 10, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the sequester budget cuts would be held off, but only until September.

Danbury Airport's control tower had been slated to close April 7 as part of $637 million in federal sequestration spending cuts. The Federal Aviation Authority announced the closure March 22. On April 5, the FAA announced a delay to June 15.

Legislators were joined Monday, May 13, by aviation officials from across Connecticut to speak about their concerns with short-term fixes when it comes to air towers.

“I appreciate our state’s congressional delegation stepping up with Republicans and Democrats on behalf of Danbury Airport and so many airports across the country,” state Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury, said.

“These control towers maintain safety and order in the skies, and going without the Danbury Municipal Airport Tower would lead to a lack of traffic flow safety. Closing the Danbury tower would be like allowing an intersection with an out-of-service traffic light to go without a traffic director.”

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