Who has the legal authority to close a runway?

• A. FAA Airport Traffic Control Tower
• B. Airport management or military operations office
• C. FAA facility manager
• D. FAA regional office

Answer: (B)

The authority to close a runway rests with the airport operator (airport management) or the military operations office on a military airfield. They control the facility’s operations and safety program, so they decide when a runway must be out of service for maintenance, repairs, safety hazards, or emergencies, and they coordinate that action with the FAA to ensure proper notices and safety procedures are in place. The air traffic control tower enforces the closure once it’s in effect, but it does not have the legal authority to close a runway by itself. The FAA facility manager or FAA regional office oversee standards and coordination at a broader level, not the formal, day‑to‑day closure decision for a specific airport.