OK, who do we believe regarding control tower issues at PTIA? The air traffic controllers, who say the tower’s too short to see the new FedEx runway, or the FAA, who says they anticipated the problem and are on top of it?
Three possible options exist. First, PTIA could accelerate contruction of a new runway. Second, they can just build a new tower:
The FAA is also studying whether the airport needs a new tower.
Henry Isaacson, chairman of the airport authority, asked for that study in May. Even if approved, a tower would take several years to design and build.
“It’s been kind of an ongoing battle between the FAA and the (Piedmont Triad Airport Authority) in terms of who’s going to pay for the tower,” Mann said. “Both privately agree we need one but they disagree on who’s going to pay for it.”
Deciding who pays is complicated.
If a tower is simply too old to operate, the FAA might pay for the majority of a new one, Bergen said. If it’s needed more because of an airport’s growth, however, the airport is often asked to write the check.
Third, as executive director Ted Johnson pointed out, the airport could just cut down some trees. I really, really hope it’s that simple. I’m not holding my breath, though.