Airport Manager: Salisbury Airport Not Going To Close - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

SALISBURY, Md. - If the sequester goes into effect, big changes could come to the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport.

"We thought that this airport was essential safe because we do have scheduled airline service and we do have more than 10,000 military operations a year," said Bob Bryant, Salisbury Airport manager.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says that it may close over 200 control towers to reduce $600 million of expenditures. Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation sent a letter out on Friday explaining reasons for the change.

"We're concerned that a program of these federal contract towers that receives wonderful reviews from the inspector general's office Department of Transportation as to its operational efficiency," said Bryant. "The safety record that these small towers bring to these airports is now being tossed around like some bargaining chip.

"The airport is not going to close. We are going to remain open. Scheduled airline service will not come to a screeching halt. It does have the potential of impacting what opportunities could be available to the Delmarva Peninsula following the merger between US Airways and [American Airlines]."

Another airport on the Eastern Shore that could see changes is Easton/Newnam Field Airport.