Federal Airport Improvement Grants to Fund Tower Upgrades

The awards include a grant for the first phase of the expansion and renovation of the tower at KBOS. [Photo: Patrick Poendl/Shutterstock]

Some 114 airports across the United States will be receiving improvements, paid for in part by the FAA's release of $970 million in grants for airport infrastructure. Among the improvements are upgrades or replacement of nine air traffic control towers.

Denver Centennial Airport (KAPA) in Colorado will receive $8 million to be used for a major tower renovation that includes the building's elevator, HVAC system, plumbing, electrical, and exterior structure.

Space Coast Regional Airport (KTIX) in Titusville, Florida, will receive $2 million to be applied to the construction of a new air traffic control tower.

In Georgia, Valdosta Regional Airport (KVLD) has been awarded $3 million for the replacement of the air traffic control tower. The airport was built in 1940 and used by the military during World War II then returned to civilian use.

Boston Logan International Airport (KBOS) has been awarded $12 million to fund phase one of a two‐phase project to expand and renovate the existing air traffic control tower. Phase one includes the construction of new space to accommodate existing and new FAA equipment, technical operations, flight simulator, and contract weather observer.

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Martin State Airport (KMTN) in Baltimore has been awarded $5.4 million to partially fund the replacement of the present control tower, which goes back decades, and according to the FAA has "reached the end of its useful life." The airport used to house the factory of the Glenn L. Martin Company, which produced military aircraft between 1920 and the 1960s. The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum remains on the property.

Duluth International Airport (KDLH) in Minnesota will get $10 million for the relocation of an airport-owned air traffic control tower. The present tower is a nonstandard structure built decades ago. The airport saw extensive use during WWII and remains a popular venue for airshows.

Francis S. Gabreski Airport (KFOK) in Westhampton Beach, New York, is expecting $4.9 million to be used to partially fund the construction of a new tower to replace the existing one built—alongside the airport—by the military during WWII. After the war, the airport reverted to civilian use, then was called back into service by the military in 1951. It remained a military facility until 1969 when it was then transferred to Suffolk County for use as a civilian airport. The FAA noted the existing tower does meet current standards.

Tulsa International Airport (KTUL) in Oklahoma is picking up $12.5 million to cover approximately 25 percent of the construction costs for a new air traffic control tower.

Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas (KHRL), received $4.5 million toward the construction of a new FAA contract tower. The FAA stated that the existing tower is not ADA compliant and has structural integrity issues.

A closer look at the distribution of the grant money can be found here.

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.