Director of Owensboro's airport says it could survive without to - Tri-State News, Weather & Sports

On the budget hit list are nearly 250 airports around the country, including the Owensboro-Daviess County airport.

If Washington can't reach a deal by March 1, the control tower at Owensboro's airport could potentially close.

Airport Director Bob Whitmer says the airport could survive without the tower.

Whitmer says the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport would remain open to passengers and flights would continue to take off and land if the FAA closes the control tower.

"There is no doubt that the control tower is a feature that every airport wants, but we are a well equipped airport with instrument landing systems," Whitmer said.

Whitmer says the six employees who work in the control tower can give pilots extra guidance when landing and taking off, but the tower isn't a requirement for the airport to function. He hopes it doesn't happen.

"The control tower operates from 6:00 in the morning to 10:00 in the evening, 365 days a year. So you can see that those are good jobs, so that would be a shame to lose those jobs," Whitmer told 14 News.

The FAA spent around $600,000 last year renovating the control tower at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.  

Whitmer says he doesn't want to see that investment go to waste.

"We understand right now it's a possibility that there is a lot going on in Washington. It's not a done deal by any means," Whitmer said.

Other airports in Kentucky that could potentially lose control towers are Barkley Regional in Paducah and Bowman Tower in Louisville.

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