The construction of Frederick Municipal Airport control tower to complete soon

The Frederick Municipal Airport control tower is nearing completion after taking a long time of thirteen years for the construction, which is scheduled to accomplish on Oct. 12 after getting the occupancy certificate from the city.

After the accomplishment of the construction, the Federal Aviation Administration will install equipment there and Midwest Air Traffic Control Service Inc. contract controllers will start training for the certification purpose. Airport Manager Kevin Daugherty said he hoped a big inauguration in January or February, which will transform the airport to a controlled airspace from an uncontrolled airfield. He added, This is a total game-changer for us." The airport can accommodate over 300 aircraft. This is a very big deal, he said. Airport projects took extra time for preparation, much initiative as well as more than decade to finish. This project worth $5.3 million got funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in the later part of last year. The control tower is all about safety as well as security. Since, the Frederick Municipal Airport is the state's second-busiest airport, Daugherty said he would hope for the enhancements of the operations' figure. The Runway 5 expansion project of the airport is another endeavor to increase the runway by 600 feet on the south and 180 feet on the north, which is likely to make it capable of accommodating more and bigger aircraft into the area. The 106 feet high Frederick Municipal Airport control tower has six floors and will provide an unhindered view of the airport s two licensed runways primary Runway 5 and secondary runway 12/30, which will be managed by two to three FAA contract controllers. Commenting on the airport's construction work, Daugherty said, We are in the final push to get this thing done." The Tuesday s earthquake made the authority to undertake a detailed assessment of its any probable impact but finally the airport manager was relieved as nothing happened to the new building. In an additional stride in the direction of the transition to the new control tower, the revolving beacon close to the top of the Airways Inn eatery as well as the top floor located airport manager s office, have been removed, to show the airport s location, a new light on the tower was activated. On Thursday Daugherty said, This is a milestone for the airport and the (tower) project." The original beacon had been turning for decades. This is kinda cool, he added.