Air Traffic Control Tower Dedication Monday
Flagler County airport is about to lose its designation as one of the country’s busiest uncontrolled airports.
Palm Coast, FL – August 15, 2009 – Formal control of air traffic in and around the Flagler County Airport takes a step forward on Monday with the dedication of its new Air Traffic Control Tower.
Rising eight stories above the surrounding landscape the cab of the tower has a commanding view of the airport and the area around the airport. Computer equipment and sophisticated radio equipment will keep FAA contracted controllers in constant contact with pilots.
The dedication ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Monday at the tower and the public is invited. Those who plan to attend should arrive a little early since the tower is on the opposite side of the airport from S.R. 100 and buses will be used to shuttle guests from the airport office to the tower.
For Roy Sieger the new tower is good news. The addition will greatly enhance the flight safety at the airport and is projected to make the county owned airport more profitable. The tower allows more corporate owned aircraft to move their operations on to the airport. An air traffic control tower is one of the requirements for most corporate aircraft insurers.
The construction project was built by D.J. Haycook of New Smyrna Beach cost $3 million. It was designed by RS&H architectural firm of Jacksonville. Under an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), $2.4 million of the cost will be paid for by FDOT the remaining $600,000 will come from Airport funds.
The airport is set up as an “enterprise” fund. Which means it is not funded by property tax dollars but out of the profits from leasing property, hangar space, user fees and aviation fuel sales. A total of $600,000 will come out of the enterprise funds to match the $2.4 million state grant.
Operation and manning of the air traffic control tower will be paid for by the FAA through the Contract Tower Program. Air Traffic Control operations will begin in September.
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