Facing heavy criticism, the FAA has rescinded an order to close 149 federal contract air traffic control towers that was to begin last week. Among those on the list was Renton Municipal Airport, south of Seattle, where Boeing ships out 737s. Paine Field, next to Boeing's Everett factory north of the city, is on a list of possible closures in September. Boeing points out that tower closures do not mean airport operations must cease. But without a tower, such safety precautions as avoiding wake turbulence for general aviation aircraft from larger transports are made more difficult.
展开▼
