DAYTON - The Dayton International Airport's administration plans to break ground on Sept. 17 for an air traffic control tower that will cost at least $30 million and won't be operational until 2010.
The airport's administration is planning an 11 a.m. ground-breaking ceremony and will invite regional officials, airport spokesman Gene Conrad said Monday.
The federal government will pay the full cost for the control tower. It will replace the one built in 1961.
The project is part of the government's effort to replace obsolete equipment nationwide in an air traffic control system straining to handle increased numbers of flights and air travelers.
The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that the Dayton tower will cost $30.6 million, not including equipment and furnishings. Construction is expected to be completed in 2009, but the tower won't be operational until the summer of 2010 while electronic and security equipment is installed and tested, FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said.
Construction could be delayed because of bad weather or problems in obtaining equipment, Cory said.
The tower is to be built on land the airport cleared two years ago by relocating aviation fuel pumps where trucks fill up so that they could refuel planes on the airfield, Conrad said. The new tower will be at 2753 Cargo Road, north of the airport terminal.
FAA plans call for a control tower and single-story administrative building with steel panel and glass exterior. The structure's tower cab is to include working space for five controller positions, plus a supervisor. There will be room in the building for training activities and conferences.
Control tower project
Sept. 17: Ground-breaking ceremony at Dayton International Airport.
Construction: Fall 2007 to spring 2009.
Training and equipment testing: Fall 2009 to spring/summer 2010.
Commissioning (official date of operation): Summer 2010.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration
