Gary airport won't appeal FAA's tower decision

GARY, Ind. (AP) - The Gary-Chicago International Airport will close its control tower April 7 because of budget cuts by the Federal Aviation Administration, saying it won't appeal the decision.

Gary airport Project Manager Bob Gyurko tells The Times of Munster that the FAA has informed airports that any appeals should be based on national security. He said the FAA specifically ruled out appeals based on lost jobs and other local interests.

He also said it would be difficult for airport administrators to come up with the $350,000 to $500,000 needed to keep the control tower open. Airport officials say the airport will remain open, but airplanes will have follow guidelines for landing without a control tower.

During the public comment section of the airport authority board meeting Monday, Gary Jet Center owner Wil Davis said airport officials should try to keep the control tower open. If it closes, he said, it would make it difficult to recruit airlines to the airport.

Allegiant, the only airline with a regularly scheduled commercial carrier flying out of the airport, has said it will consider whether to keep flying to airports with closed towers on a case-by-case basis.