Stillwater Approves 'Stop Gap' Funding For Airport Tower Operation

What officials call "stop gap" funding will keep Stillwater Airport's control tower open past the June 15th FAA deadline.  

The Stillwater city council Monday evening approved $104,000 for operation of the tower from June 15, 2013 to October 1, 2013.

The FAA announced earlier this month it had delayed the closing of 149 federal contract air control towers until June 15, 2013.

4/5/2013 Related Story: FAA Delays Closure Of 4 Oklahoma Airport Control Towers Until June

In March, the agency released a list of control towers to close. That list included towers in Lawton, Norman, Wiley Post in Oklahoma City and Stillwater.

Stillwater airport director Gary Johnson said with the additional funding, the airport's control tower will be open every day except Sunday. They will also reduce the hours each day the control tower is open.

Johnson feels the "stop-gap" funds will cover 90 percent of the aircraft traffic in and out of Stillwater.

Earlier this month, OU President David Boren said the university would provide bridge funding to keep the tower at Max Westheimer airport in Norman open until budget issues were resolved.