The FAA’s federal contract tower program consists of 254 facilities located in 46 states. The FCT program was created in 1982 in order to allow airports that would be unable to afford the price of a traditional FAA operated tower to enjoy the benefits of ATC services. Those towers and their 1,400 controllers manage 28 percent of the National Airspace System.
Report Says Contract Towers Are Safe, Cost Less Than FAA Facilities
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA's federal contract tower (FCT) program, established in 1982, comprises 254 facilities that manage 28% of the National Airspace System by providing ATC services to airports unable to afford traditional FAA-operated towers.
- A DOT Inspector General report for 2015-2019 found that contract towers are significantly more cost-effective, costing $1.5 million less per year to operate and substantially less per aircraft movement compared to FAA facilities, primarily due to lower controller staffing costs.
- The report concluded that contract towers maintain a safety record comparable to similarly sized FAA facilities, noting statistically fewer safety incidents which the IG deemed not meaningfully different due to the overall low number of events across the NAS.
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