FAA Delays Closure Of 4 Oklahoma Airport Control Towers Until June

The FAA announced Friday it has delayed the closing of 149 federal contract air control towers until June 15, 2013.

The Federal Aviation Administration last month released a list of control towers to close starting April 7, 2013.

That list included towers in Lawton, Norman, Wiley Post in Oklahoma City and Stillwater.

3/22/2013 Related Story: Closing Of Stillwater's Air Traffic Control Tower Poses Safety Concerns

The FAA says the additional time would allow the agency to deal with legal challenges to the closures.

"This has been a complex process and we need to get this right," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Safety is our top priority. We will use this additional time to make sure communities and pilots understand the changes at their local airports."

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.

4/2/2013 Related Story: OU Provides Funding To Keep Airport Tower Open Despite Federal Budget Cuts