Stinson, New Braunfels airports to get reprieve?

(left to right( Dylan Krassensky, Andreas Sanchez, and Crystal Borror (cq) are attending air traffic control school in the tower at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport. William Bose (right) is an instructor. Monday February 5, 2007. less (left to right( Dylan Krassensky, Andreas Sanchez, and Crystal Borror (cq) are attending air traffic control school in the tower at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport. William Bose (right) is an instructor. ... more Photo: Robert McLeroy, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Robert McLeroy, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Stinson, New Braunfels airports to get reprieve? 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Stinson Municipal Airport and New Braunfels Municipal Airport are among 13 small Texas landing fields in line to get state funding to continue service amid sequestration budget cuts.

The Texas Department of Transportation said Thursday it intends to fund air traffic control towers when federal funding goes away.

The move is pending Texas Transportation Commission approval, expected in an emergency session next week.

“Safety is the primary reason we felt a need to take immediate action for the air travelers and business aircraft that use these airports,” Commissioner Fred Underwood of the Texas Transportation Commission. “I am proud of our leaders for taking this extraordinary measure to ensure that those relying on these municipal airports will be able to depart and arrive safely and efficiently.”

When automatic budget cuts from the federal government went into effect last month, Texas regional airports were scheduled to lose funding for air traffic control service starting April 7.

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Perry sent a letter asking the commission to provide 90 days of emergency assistance to keep the control towers open.

“Flying is an integral part of commerce in Texas,” TxDOT executive director Phil Wilson said in the news release. “Local communities are counting on these airports to remain open for continued economic success.”

Other South and Central Texas municipal airports affected were in Brownsville, Georgetown, San Marcos and Victoria.