Without Ryan Airfield tower, local business may suffer

CREATED Mar. 15, 2013

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  • Earlier this month, the F.A.A. sent a letter to Ryan Airfield and 188 other small airports in the country, saying their air traffic control towers were on the chopping block. Meaning, some local businesses may be affected too. Video by kgun9.com

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  • The FAA does not list Tucson International's Control Tower as a candidate for cuts, but the tower at Ryan Field, which serves private planes, may close

Reporter: Liz Kotalik

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - After safely landing in Ryan Airfield, hungry pilots go straight to Todd's.

"We get probably a good 40% of our customers from the airfield," said co-owner of Todd's Restaurant at Ryan Field, Shari Scott.

Having a restaurant so close to the airport means lots of guaranteed customers. 

"They fuel there aircraft, they fuel their bodies with good food,"

And many use Todd's to take a break from their training.

James Sheldrick is a soon to be pilot from Oxford Aviation Academy, and he and other students practice in what's basically Todd's backyard.

"We're doing part of a cross-country solo navigation exercise," James told Nine on Your Side.
 
But, looming sequester cuts may force James and others to fly somewhere else.
 
Earlier this month, the F.A.A. sent a letter to Ryan Airfield and 188 other small airports in the country, saying their air traffic control towers were on the chopping block.
 
"For purposes of training, I mean, safety is a main issue," James said.
 
That means if the tower is gone, so are the students and others who don't feel comfortable flying without air traffic control.

But, Sherri isn't panicking. 
 
"It's not necessary to have a tower, and many airports in the United States do not have towers."
 
Some customers who are experienced pilots tell her they wouldn't mind flying without it, and Sherri says the possibility of losing some business won't force her restaurant to crash and burn. 
 
"We managed to get through the recession, and we'll find a way to do it."