New Bedford Airport Tower Closing Due to Sequester Cuts

The Massachusetts Congressional delegation is calling on the FAA to prevent the closure of some 200 air traffic control towers, including New Bedford, slated to be shuttered next month as part of sequestration cuts.

The towers slated for closure in the Bay State besides New Bedford include, Norwood, Lawrence, Beverly, Worcester and Westfield-Barnes. The state delegation members join a growing group of opponents to the FAA cuts. Last Wednesday, Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, spearheaded a bipartisan amendment to avert the closures on similar grounds.

According to published reports, Jim Chartier, tower manager at the New Bedford Regional Airport says that everyone at the tower will lose their jobs unless congress reaches a last-minute deal.