A U.S. congressman says the air traffic control tower at Chicago's Midway International Airport no longer faces possible overnight closure under federal budget cuts.
Midway's tower had been on a list of 72 air traffic control facilities where overnight shifts could be scrapped as a result of budget cuts forced upon the Federal Aviation Administration under sequestration.
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, a Democrat representing parts of Chicago, has urged the FAA for months to pull Midway off the list.
He said in a statement Tuesday night that the agency will now keep Midway tower open.
An FAA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Last month, Congress approved legislation freeing up funds that could help keep control towers open. The legislation also ended FAA staff furloughs.
Midway Control Tower Spared Overnight Closure
Midway's tower was on a list of 72 air traffic control facilities where overnight shifts could be scrapped as a result of budget cuts
Copyright AP - Associated Press
