Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington-Normal has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration alleging that its plan to cut funding for air traffic control violates federal law.
The airport is one of five in Illinois that will lose federal funding in April for control towers under the across-the-board sequestration budget cuts. The Pantagraph reports Friday that the suit seeks a judicial review of the decision. The Central Illinois Regional Airport authority says it plans to continue control tower service even if it has to pay the half-million dollar yearly bill itself. The legal action, filed Wednesday in Washington, charges the FAA is in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. That law requires a review process of environmental and socioeconomic factors before making major changes to airports.
The Southern Illinois Airport near Carbondale is also scheduled to lose its control tower as part of the FAA closures that are to begin on April 7th. The airport is home to Southern Illinois University’s aviation program and is one of the busiest runways in the country. Southern Illinois Congressman Bill Enyart has written to the FAA asking it to re-consider. The Williamson County Regional Airport’s tower is also expected to close in the fall.
