AviationGeeks.com - Dedicates $72.6 Million Air Traffic Control Tower at Memphis International Airport

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt today dedicated the new $72.6 million air traffic control tower and radar approach control at Memphis International Airport.  The new tower enables air traffic controllers to continue to provide the safest, most efficient service to both passenger and cargo flights.

“We must invest in rebuilding and expanding our nation’s aviation infrastructure so we can remain competitive in our global economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.  “The American Jobs Act will put construction workers back to work modernizing our nation’s airports and America’s transportation system.”

“This tower is a symbol of the FAA’s commitment to aviation safety and modernization of the air traffic control system,” said FAA Administrator Babbitt.  “Our future success depends on keeping our airport infrastructure healthy and investing in NextGen so we can make air travel more efficient, dependable and even safer.”

The new 336-foot-tall Memphis air traffic control tower is equipped with state-of-the-art Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen, technology.  The 850 square-foot tower cab has enough room to accommodate additional future air traffic control positions.  The 24,000-square-foot base building houses training rooms, administrative offices, and an expanded terminal radar approach control (TRACON), with space for future growth. The new facility has the latest seismic, security, and air traffic simulation capabilities.

Memphis Tower controllers handled 333,647 takeoffs and landings in 2010, making it the 22nd busiest tower in the country.  Memphis TRACON controllers handled 356,734 instrument operations (overflights) in 2010, making it the 23rd busiest TRACON nationwide.

The American Jobs Act includes $1 billion to continue research and development to advance NextGen.  The Act also proposes $2 billion for improvements to airport runways, taxiways and terminals. 

Source: FAA