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The control tower of the future

By General Aviation News Staff · October 30, 2021 ·

The FAA is searching for a new design for control towers that can be built and operated sustainably at regional and municipal airports.

“For communities large and small, the air traffic control tower is an icon. We want architects and engineers from every corner of the country to help build the safe and sustainable towers of the future,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

The FAA has more than 100 aging control towers at regional and municipal airports across the United States that will eventually need to be replaced.

The tower at Tucson International Airport provides an example of sustainable building already in operation, according to FAA officials. The tower is the first air traffic facility with net-zero energy consumption. It uses a 1,600-panel solar farm to generate power for all of its electrical needs, and supplies unused power back to the grid. The solar farm also produces ice, which is stored in large containers and used to cool the building when solar panels are not generating electricity. Additional green features include reflective roofing materials, insulated windows, motion detectors for the low-energy, indoor lights, and no-water landscaping.

With its new search, the FAA wants to develop a standardized design for towers that will:

  • Meet operational and cost requirements
  • Maximize energy efficiency
  • Be easy to modify according to height needs
  • Be rapidly constructed

On Nov. 9, 2021, the FAA will host a webinar to answer questions from interested businesses before the official solicitation starts. U.S.-based architectural and engineering design firms can register starting Nov. 16.

Details about the webinar and more are available at FAA.gov.

The three-phase selection process includes:

  • Phase 1 – Request for Information (RFI): Architectural and engineering firms may submit a general project idea and approach statement. Based on these submissions, the FAA will narrow the field of choices to 15 firms that will be eligible to compete in Phase 2.
  • Phase 2 – Request for Qualifications (RFQ): In Phase 2, the selected firms will be asked to provide resumes, relevant experience, and financial capabilities. Based on these submissions, up to six firms will be selected to provide a conceptual design package and cost estimate for the complete tower design in Phase 3.
  • Phase 3 – Request for Offer (RFO): In Phase 3, the FAA will evaluate the design package and cost estimate from each of the six firms selected from Phase 2. From those six submissions, the FAA plans to award a contract to a top-rated applicant to fully design the new air traffic control tower concept.

The FAA used a similar approach back in 1962 when it invited architectural firms to develop a modular design concept for new control towers. The agency ultimately selected a proposal from the company headed by architect I.M. Pei. Several of the 16 Pei-designed towers — including at Chicago O’Hare, Sacramento, Madison, and Jacksonville international airports — are still operating today, according to FAA officials.

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Comments

  1. ManyDecadesGA says

    November 6, 2021 at 10:39 am

    Towers as such are utterly OBSOLETE. Even the “Remote” towers are only a short term stop-gap. Towers are a modern equivalent of a new design for an air conditioned solar powered “Telephone Booth” …in an era of ubiquitous iPhones. NextGen (PastGen) is an utter overly expensive failure. The entire ATS/ANSP concept needs to now be re-thought, from fundamental principles. Considering 3,000,000 plus drones, directed energy, electrics, high-speed flight, space access, let alone military and security requirements (hundreds of absurd TFRs)… not even considering sport, LSA, and air transport… the only rational answer is ATS based on using automated RNP dynamic trajectory separation.

    Even at major hubs, “Towers” way up in the fog bank are complete nonsense, having to use ASDE-X and computation anyway.

    It’s time for FAA to not install ANY new towers, not waste any money (PORK) on rebuilding any towers that aren’t a near term seismic risk, and to review the entire concept of what towers do and why. Archie League and Glen Gilbert are probably both rolling over in their graves watching this FAA nonsense and taxpayer expense pork feast.

    • Leslie Briggs says

      November 6, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      Well said. Totally agree.

  2. Henry Finelli,Jr. says

    November 6, 2021 at 8:53 am

    I have spent many years in commercial and private aviation. WHY, can’t departments of our government (especially the FAA) stop wasting money on fantasy projects. I was a flight instructor, a flight engineer, an airline captain, and have an A & P mechanics license. DON’t try to fix something that’s not broken, just to justify their jobs.

  3. Brian Oakes says

    November 6, 2021 at 8:51 am

    It’s amazing what is important when you are spending other people’s money

  4. Mac says

    November 2, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    How is the remote towers working out?

    • Rick D says

      November 6, 2021 at 7:45 am

      Good question. Remote towers seem like he best idea. Especially at lower-traffic airports where a controller is idle more so than at busier class B airports.

  5. Randy Coller says

    November 1, 2021 at 6:03 am

    Seems like they should only need about three designs. One for small airports, one for medium, and one for large. A tower is a tower is a tower.

  6. Jim Macklin ATP/CFII says

    November 1, 2021 at 4:44 am

    Will potholes be included?

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