Aviation Spending Cuts Could Impact Peoria, Bloomignton
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: February 23, 2013
PEORIA-The Federal Aviation Administration announced spending cuts, and the Peoria and Bloomington airports could take a hit.
The FAA released a series of proposals aimed at reducing its budget by $600-million. Under consideration are closing more than 100 air traffic control facilities in the U.S., including the one at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.
The FAA will also consider the elimination of overnight air traffic control operations at 60 facilities, on that list is Peoria International Airport.
Gene Olson the PIA Director of Airports. He says that eliminating those overnight controls could make flying less safe. Instead of talking to someone in the control tower, it would mean that pilots would have to talk to each other, which could be dangerous if the airport is busy.
But Olson also says since PIA has overnight cargo operations and it serves the local air guard, that he's hopeful Peoria's international airport will be safe from the cuts.
