FAA to decide on Ramona Airport control tower closure on Friday

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scheduled to decide on Friday, March 22, whether to close the traffic control tower at Ramona Airport, said a spokesman for County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

Originally scheduled for Monday, March 18, the FAA delayed the decision because it received “such a high level of response,” said Steve Schmidt, Jacob’s communications adviser.

Jacob, whose District 2 includes Ramona, encouraged residents to contact the FAA to protest the closure after she held a press conference last week on the federal government’s announcement.

The FAA said the tower is set to possibly close on April 7 due to self-imposed budget cuts mandated by sequestration, according to Jacob’s office. San Diego County supervisors and state and local fire chiefs are opposed to the closure, saying it would jeopardize aerial firefighting in a region prone to wildfires. Ramona Airport is home to a firefighting air base.