Feds to replace air traffic control tower at Athens-Ben Epps Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking public input for the replacement of airport control towers at 31 airports across the country including the four-decades old tower at Athens-Ben Epps Airport.
The control towers are outdated, according to a news release from the FAA.
Athens-Ben Epps Airport Director Mike Matthews said that local officials are in the process now of selecting a site for the new tower, which could be erected within the next two to three years.
“It probably will not go in that same location so we’re working on finding a good site,” he said.
The current tower is 40 years old and located between the fire house and the general aviation terminal at the airport.
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“That is good property for us so we could build a nice size hangar or additional administrative offices. It will definitely benefit us by moving it,” Mathews said.
The airport is busy with traffic running from about 3,500 to more than 5,000 a month in terms of landings and takeoffs, he said.
The controllers working in the traffic tower control an approximately 5-mile radius of the airport, located off Winterville Road in east Athens.
As soon as pilots enter that air space they need to communicate with the tower to arrange for a landing, Mathews said.
The new tower will be taller than the current tower and have a larger work area for the air traffic control workers.
The FAA announced the new towers are funded by $500 million allocated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The towers are designed by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, a firm in New York, and will range in height from 60 to119 feet.
The FAA will collect written comments through July 31. Those comments can be submitted at the www.regulations.gov.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: FAA to replace air traffic tower at Athens airport; seeks public input
