April 17, 2025
The U.S. Contract Tower Association yesterday sent a letter to key lawmakers urging them to take numerous steps to improve controller staffing at contract towers, upgrade aging towers, and provide controllers with better equipment to enhance aviation safety. The move comes as Congress and the Administration are considering proposals to reform the Air Traffic Control System.
Enhance Controller Staffing: USCTA provided lawmakers with about a dozen proposals including recommendations to enhance controller staffing at contract towers. Securing additional controllers and limiting staffing disruptions continues to be a top priority for airports that participate in the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program.
The association is calling on the Departments of Transportation and Labor to expedite their review of the outdated wage determination for contract tower controllers and managers. Higher wages could help service providers retain and attract new controllers. USCTA is also recommending that the FAA work with contractors to expand their controller training programs to a broader pool of qualified candidates.
Invest in Contract Tower Infrastructure: USCTA is urging Congress and the Administration to provide $1.4 billion to help airports repair, replace, and relocate old contract towers. Of that amount, $800 million would be reserved for sponsor-owned towers and $600 million for FAA-owned towers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $300 million for contract tower upgrade -- $100 million for sponsor-owned towers and $200 million for FAA-owned towers.
“That funding represents a step in the right direction,” USCTA said in its letter. “But it is not nearly enough to repair and replace aging contract towers.”
Provide Controllers with Better Equipment: Contract tower airports have been pressing Congress and the Administration to provide controllers with better equipment. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 included USCTA-backed provisions to advance that effort. The letter calls on the FAA to expedite the approval of situational awareness equipment in contract towers and to provide $500 million to help airports procure this critical technology.
“This would be an easy way to enhance aviation safety at contract towers that don’t currently have radar displays,” USCTA said. “Deploying this technology would reduce the risk of midair collisions, especially at contract towers with a wide variety of users.”
Aviation Industry Letter: USCTA sent its list of contract tower-related recommendations to other key lawmakers and Administration officials. Earlier this week a coalition of more than 45 aviation industry stakeholders including AAAE and USCTA sent a broader letter to key lawmakers that outlines the industry’s recommendations to modernize the ATC system. The industry letter includes several references to the FCT Program.
Related Documents
- USCTA recommendations may be viewed here.
- A USCTA press release on the recommendations may be viewed here.
- The aviation industry letter ATC reform may be viewed here.