Stennis tower listed to close

The air traffic control tower at Stennis International Airport in Kiln is among seven in Mississippi set to close in April as the Federal Aviation Administration moves to reduce spending by $600 million under automatic federal budget cuts. The FAA said it will consider keeping some towers open on a case-by-case basis. Other Mississippi airports on the list -- there are 173 nationwide -- are Tupelo Regional, Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mid-Delta in Greenville, Hawkins Field at Jackson, Key Field in Meridian and Olive Branch Regional. (Source: AP via Hattiesburg American, 03/07/13) Stennis International serves the nearby NASA Stennis Space Center. Among other things the airport is used by Rolls-Royce to receive and ship out engines that it tests at SSC.