FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville Regional Airport officially opened its new air traffic control tower Friday, marking the completion of a project airport officials say will help prepare AVL for continued growth while giving air traffic controllers a modern facility and workspace.
Airport leaders and Federal Aviation Administration officials gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 121-foot tower, which replaces the airport’s original control tower built in 1961.
The old tower was one of the oldest operating air traffic control towers in the country.
“Today, this new state-of-the-art facility represents a significant investment in aviation safety,” said Jeffrey Vincent, FAA regional administrator for the Southern Region.
The new tower provides controllers with improved visibility of the airfield and a more modern workspace. It also is designed to withstand storms and is part of the airport’s broader terminal modernization plans.
The FAA provided $31.7 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to construct the tower, according to the agency. The FAA also awarded $10 million through the same legislation to expand and modernize the airport terminal, increasing gate capacity from five to 12.
The new tower comes as Asheville Regional Airport has experienced significant growth, with air carrier operations increasing more than 300% over the past decade, according to the FAA.
That growth has made AVL the third-busiest airport in North Carolina, according to the agency.
The airport also saw a dramatic increase in air traffic following Hurricane Helene in September 2024 as aviation operations supported recovery efforts across Western North Carolina.
“Air traffic controllers need modern infrastructure and technology to keep up with growing demand,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024, our controllers managed a dramatic increase in traffic to support recovery efforts.”
The tower is also part of a larger modernization effort.
The FAA plans to install additional equipment at AVL by the end of 2028 through its Brand New Air Traffic Control System program. The upgrades include new radar systems, modern voice switches and a Surface Awareness Initiative that will allow controllers to track aircraft and vehicles in real time, including when they are out of sight from the tower or during poor weather.
The airport recently received a new Tower Simulation System, which allows controllers to train using airport-specific operations and scenarios in a controlled environment. The FAA said the system can speed up training times by nearly 30%.
Airport officials said relocating the tower also creates space for the ongoing terminal modernization project.
“This project is not only about replacing an infrastructure, it’s part of a broader vision to prepare Asheville Regional Airport for the future,” airport officials said during Friday’s ceremony.
The new tower project was years in the making. Airport officials said planning began in 2018, with construction breaking ground in January 2023.
Airport officials also said the project was among two FAA projects allowed to continue during a federal government shutdown.
The tower is designed to serve an airport that connects Western North Carolina to destinations across the country and serves commercial passengers, general aviation pilots, businesses, visitors and residents.
Airport officials described the tower as more than a new building, calling it a visible symbol of AVL’s future.
“This new tower strengthens the airport’s ability to serve the region safely and efficiently, while also supporting the continued transformation of the airport campus,” officials said.
The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting involving Vincent and Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority board members, officially marking the opening of the new facility.