The largest airport in Kansas is at risk of cancelling one-third of its daily flights after flooding caused water damage to electrical components that control airfield lighting.
Wichita Eisenhower National Airport is seeking emergency funding from the city of Wichita to maintain nighttime operations after it received 10.3 inches of rain on the night of June 25 and the morning of June 26.
“Airfield lights and lighted signage are required by federal regulation for nighttime operations,” a city memorandum on the damage says. “An interruption of airfield lighting could potentially cause the cancellation of approximately one-third of the daily flights and additional departures the next day, interrupting air travel not only for Wichita, but for other major cities in the U.S.”…