The U.S. Department of Transportation recently issued $750 million to replace eight air traffic control towers and Terminal Radar Approach Controls or TRACONs with new facilities alongside $85.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to upgrade Federal Contract Towers or FCTs at 41 airports across 24 states.
[Above image by the FAA]
USDOT said the eight new towers will feature modern equipment as part of an overhaul of Air Traffic Control or ATC system.
The separate facility-upgrade projects being funded by the FAA will include new windows, heating and cooling systems, elevators, and roof replacement. The funding will also replace obsolete tower equipment, including radios, automated voice recorders, and airport lighting controls.
FAA noted that its FCT Grant Program provides $20 million annually over five years to modernize towers, improve infrastructure, and install critical air traffic control and communications equipment at FCTs, which are staffed by contract personnel rather than FAA employees.
“Our controllers are the best in the world and they deserve to work in the best, most modern facilities,” said Bryan Bedford, FAA administrator, in a statement.
“These investments will replace aging infrastructure with modern, state-of-the-art towers and equipment that strengthens safety, improves reliability, and supports the future of the National Airspace System,” he said.
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