The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to invest $40.9 million in building a new, 180-foot-tall air traffic control tower at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The new control tower will allow air traffic controllers to manage flights safely and efficiently by accommodating up to eight positions for air traffic controllers. It replaces a 90-foot-tall tower in operation since 1974
The 15,650 square-foot base building will anchor a 550- square-foot tower cab. It also will house the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), communications systems, state-of-the-art automation, administrative offices, and a training classroom.
TRACONs are radar operations air traffic controllers use to direct aircraft. They are used to control aircraft transiting in an area, manages arrivals and departures, and all related transitions to and from cruise. Controllers monitor a radar screen and maintain voice contact with pilots.
Piedmont Triad’s TRACON will have up to 10 radar positions for air traffic controllers.
Construction is scheduled to begin early next year with the FAA commissioning the facility in 2022.
The construction contract was awarded to Archer Western Construction based in Chicago.
Piedmont Triad is North Carolina’s third busiest airport. In the 12 months ending Sept. 1, the TRACON handled 155,000 radar operations and the tower controlled 84,600 flights.