Both Roanoke and Lynchburg's airports could feel an impact from automatic federal spending cuts, known as the sequester, should they take effect on March 1st.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday outlined steps it may take, should it need to cut $1 billion as part of the sequester. The FAA would bear about 60% of that burden (approx. $600 million).
As part of the FAA's possible cuts:
Lynchburg Regional Airport's control tower could close
Roanoke Regional airport could lose its overnight Air Traffic Controller shift
Other potential FAA impacts include shift cuts for various airport workers, and 90 minute flight delays at airports in major U.S. cities.
According to a statement from Sherry Wallace with the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, the earliest that fliers could see changes at ROA is April 1st. Wallace also stressed that safety would not be impacted.
"Currently, the last passenger flights land at Roanoke Regional Airport between 11 p.m. and midnight and resume at 5:30 a.m. It is expected that the tower ground flight operations will be closed after the last flight and before the first flight of each day; however, passengers on late night flights delayed by weather, air traffic congestion or aircraft malfunction may be inconvenienced, depending on the policies of the various airlines using ROA," Wallace stated.
All this week, WSLS 10 is taking you inside several unique destinations right here in our backyard. This time, we're going off the beaten path to a 500 acre outdoor playground in New Castle.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Thursday, May 23 2013 4:23 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:23:40 GMT
A Carroll County sheriff's deputy found a woman's body in Grayson County, sheriff Richard Vaughan is confirming. Vaughan, the sheriff of Grayson County, said he thought the body had been there for about
Neighbor found Desia Rae George's cell phone, which kicked off a search of the area where the phone was recovered
Friday, May 24 2013 1:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:50:08 GMT
Developers broke ground on a large, riverside development in Roanoke. The 22-acre space will be a mixed use development called, "The Bridges." It's located along South Jefferson Street. Over the next
The 22-acre space will be a mixed use development called, "The Bridges." It's located along South Jefferson Street
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:05:38 GMT
WSLS is working together with Southwest Virginia relief organizations to collect supplies for victims of the EF-5 tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma.
List of local relief groups collecting tornado help for Oklahoma
Friday, May 24 2013 11:17 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:17:33 GMT
Festival 2013 is underway at River's Edge. The annual Memorial Day weekend tradition will move back home to Elmwood Park next year. Elmwood Park is currently under renovation. Tickets for the concerts
Festival 2013 is underway at River's Edge. The annual Memorial Day weekend tradition will move back home to Elmwood Park next year. Elmwood Park is currently under renovation. Tickets for the concerts
Friday, May 24 2013 8:41 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:41:56 GMT
Roanoke City Police are searching for two men in connection with the armed robbery of a CVS Pharmacy early Friday.Officers say the robbers hit the CVS in the 2000 block of Colonial Avenue, next to Towers
Police say pair of men stole prescription medications, and carried a white baseball bat
Friday, May 24 2013 8:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:26:15 GMT
God's Pit Crew volunteers from Southwest Virginia began their first full day of tornado relief on Friday in Moore, Oklahoma."This kind of destruction kind of breaks my heart," said Michael Dowdy as he
The GPC group toured the disaster area, and mapped out places where they could do the most good
Friday, May 24 2013 8:04 PM EDT2013-05-25 00:04:29 GMT
Roanoke City Police are searching for two robbers, one of whom attacked a store clerk on Friday.Officers tell WSLS the robbery took place at the One Stop Market in the 800 block of Bridge Street around
The store employee on duty told investigators that two men walked into the store, one took out a gun, and demanded money
Friday, May 24 2013 7:51 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:51:26 GMT
The Lynchburg location of nuclear engineering company AREVA, helped the Jefferson Forest High School varsity boys soccer team make a difference this season off the field.AREVA sponsored the team's "Kicks
AREVA sponsored the team's "Kicks for a Cause" fundraiser to benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's backpack program to help fight childhood hunger
