The air traffic control tower at the Niagara Falls International Airport, which was a potential victim of sequestration budget cuts, will remain open. The Falls tower is not on the Federal Aviation Administration's final list of 149 control facilities that will close at smaller airports across the nation. The list was released Friday.
The FAA is being forced to trim $637 million under the sequester that took effect March 1. Many FAA employees are being furloughed.
The tower closures won't force the smaller airports to shut down, but pilots will be left to coordinate takeoffs and landings among themselves over a shared radio frequency with no help from ground controllers. That's something they are trained to do, but airport directors have raised concerns about the potential impact on safety.
NFTA Executive Director Kimberkly Minkel says the the authority is "pleased and thankful" the tower at the Falls airport will remain open.