City Council Approves Pursuit of $2.5M FAA Grant for New Air Traffic Control Tower Design

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to direct staff to apply for a $2.5 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to fund the design phase of a new air traffic control tower at San Angelo Regional Airport. 

Airport Director Justin Fletcher presented the item, noting the current tower was built in the 1950s with 1980s-era radio equipment that struggles to integrate with modern digital systems. He cited ongoing facility issues, lack of ADA compliance, and a past medical emergency in which firefighters had to carry an air traffic controller down stairs for resuscitation. 

The $2.5 million would cover design drawings, airspace analysis, and a siting study under the FAA’s $120 million competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity for federal contract towers. The full project, from design to construction, is estimated at $15 million. The design and siting phase could take 18-24 months.

Fletcher acknowledged one key risk: if the city receives the funds but later allows the project to go idle without good-faith efforts to proceed, the FAA could seek full reimbursement of the $2.5 million. He described that possibility as remote and said the airport is already coordinating with the FAA project manager and congressional representatives. 

Council members expressed strong support, calling the aging tower a safety and operational concern and the grant application a worthwhile step to modernize the airport. Several noted the tower’s importance for commercial, military, and general aviation activity. 

The council directed Fletcher to move forward with the application ahead of the Feb. 17, 2026, deadline. Award of the $2,500,000 grant is not guaranteed. San Angelo will compete with other airports and air traffic control towers across the United States.