May 18, 2026
The FAA today announced that it is moving forward with a pilot program aimed at transitioning a limited number of high-activity contract towers to FAA-staffed towers. The agency also revealed that it has selected the first two contract tower candidates to participate in the long-anticipated pilot program – Bozeman Yellowstone International in Montana and Mesa Gateway in Arizona.
According to an agency press release, the pilot program “will assess the feasibility, benefits, and challenges associated with converting high-activity towers to FAA staffing and management.” The statement goes on to say that “qualified contract tower controllers will transition with their facility to an FAA trained and operated tower” as required by law.
The FAA intends to phase in this pilot program “to ensure safety and operational continuity.” The agency indicates that it will take “29 to 44 months to successfully complete the pilot program.”
Background on Transition Pilot Program
The FAA reauthorization bill, which was enacted into law on May 16, 2024, directs the FAA “to establish a pilot program to convert high activity air traffic control towers operating under the Contract Tower Program to FAA staffed visual flight rules towers.” As part of that requirement, the agency must prioritize contract towers that either:
Had over 200,000 annual tower operations in calendar year 2022; or
Served a small hub airport with more than 900,000 passenger enplanements in calendar year 2021.
The bill also requires the agency to prioritize contract towers that:
Are either currently FAA-owned or constructed to FAA standards, and
Operate within complex airspace.
The reauthorization bill also requires the FAA to select participants for the pilot program based on available funding and interest from airport sponsors. The FAA bill authorized $30 million for the pilot program, and Congress appropriated $6 million for the initiative as part of the FY26 DOT appropriations package.