The Greenwood business community is putting up a fight to keep the Federal Aviation Administration from shutting down the FAA service station at Greenwood Leflore Airport.
There are currently 58 Federal Aviation Administration service stations around the country. By 2007, there will be an estimated 20.
"We had a consultant come and evaluate the efficiency of the service stations. We found that we could consolidate and update the services with no affect on aviation safety," said FAA spokesman William Shumann.
Following the investigation, the service stations were contracted out to Lockheed Martin for a five-year period.
Over 10 years, privatization is expected to cost $1.9 billion, but this would lead to savings of $2.2 billion.
On Oct. 1, 2005, control of the stations will be relinquished to Lockheed Martin. In March or April 2006, Lockheed Martin will start shutting down stations.
FAA service stations are built for general aviation and corporate flights. Unlike air traffic control, a service station does not monitor or have radar contact with a plane.
The purpose of the facility is to provide weather updates and in-flight briefings for flights that radio in. Pilots can also file their flight plans with the station.
If a plane went missing, the service station would be the first to initiate a search and rescue.
If the Leflore County service station were shut down the duties would go to Macon, Ga., Nashville or St. Petersburg, Fla.
Donnie Brock, chairman of the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board, said, "This service station is important because it's providing over 20 high paying jobs for people in Leflore and Carroll counties.
"It also adds prestige to our community because it's the only service station in the state."
Bill Crump, governmental affairs director for Viking Range Corp., next week will be going to Washington, D.C., on business that includes talking to federal legislators from Mississippi about retaining the station.
"Viking is very interested in the overall economic well being of Greenwood. I felt this would be a good time to emphasize the importance of the matter," said Crump.
Businesses have written letters to Sens.Trent Lott and Thad Cochran and Rep. Bennie Thompson explaining the importance of the service station and urging them to change the situation. Crump will personally hand the letters to the lawmakers.
James Quinn, a Planters Bank officer, wrote a letter. "Any time we might lose jobs in Greenwood, we need to exhaust every source we've got to get them back," said Quinn.
