The San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT) will receive a combined $24 million investment from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to upgrade air traffic control infrastructure and equipment. The airport will also begin the design phase for a replacement tower later this summer.
The lion’s share of that investment – $18 million – will enable the airport to modernize its current air traffic control tower, focusing on procuring new equipment and improving infrastructure. Designed to shore up the tower’s service life and operations, planned improvements include replacing radios, installing fiber-optic communication lines and upgrading radar equipment.
The current tower was built in the 1950s and relies on decades-old equipment to manage flights. The facility has struggled with ongoing maintenance issues, noncompliance with ADA standards and inadequate accessibility.
With decades of use catching up, the tower will not be able to service the airport’s needs forever. As the airport works to extend its operational lifespan, SJT will soon embark on a $15 million effort to replace the antiquated structure with a modern replacement tower.
SJT recently received $1 million from the FAA, alongside a $5 million congressional earmark, to design the tower. As part of that award, the airport will draw up the structure’s preliminary design and conduct site selection and environmental clearance. The design phase is estimated to last 12 months before construction can begin.
Photo by Max Walter from Pexels
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