March 21, 2024
On March 21, the Federal Aviation Administration today released another round of infrastructure grants for airports that participate in the FAA Contract Tower Program to upgrade sponsor-owned air traffic control towers. Twenty FCT airports in 17 states will share a total of $20 million for the tower-related projects.
The bipartisan infrastructure law included a total of $25 billion for aviation over five years. Of that amount, $15 billion is for airport infrastructure grants, $5 billion for airport terminal projects, and $5 billion for air traffic facilities.
AAAE and USCTA successfully convinced Congress to provide at least $300 million for FCT airports to repair, replace, and relocate aging air traffic control towers. Of that amount, $100 million is reserved for FCT airports to upgrade sponsor-owned towers or $20 million annually.
This announcement is the third round of funding for the FAA Contract Tower Program Competitive Grant program and covers Fiscal Year 2024. The FAA has correctly pointed out in the past that the goal of this funding is “to sustain, construct, repair, improve, modernize, replace or relocate airport-owned towers and install communications equipment.”
The competitive grants that the agency unveiled today ranged from $254,000 to replace windows and doors at one contract tower to $2 million, which three airports received to help improve or replace their respective towers. The list of FCT airports that will receive funding may be viewed here.
Not surprisingly, there is far more demand than available funds. The FAA indicated that the agency received 80 applications for $222 million in requests for tower upgrades at FCT airports.
Related Information
The list of FCT airports that will receive funding may be viewed here.
DOT’s press release on today’s announcement may be viewed here.
A comprehensive AAAE chart that shows the status of airport development grants may be viewed here.