FAA Opens New Asheville Air Traffic Control Tower to Support Record Growth in Western North Carolina

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The FAA today announced the opening of Asheville Regional Airport’s (AVL) new 121-foot air traffic control tower, which replaces the old facility built in 1961. The new facility provides controllers with a modern workspace to support growing air traffic demand across western North Carolina.

“Air traffic controllers need modern infrastructure and technology to keep up with growing demand,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024, our controllers managed a dramatic increase in traffic to support recovery efforts. They deserve a modern facility and 21st century tools to continue providing safe and efficient air traffic services to western North Carolina.”

Over the past decade, air carrier operations at Asheville Regional Airport have increased by more than 300 percent, making it the third-busiest airport in North Carolina. The new tower provides controllers with improved visibility and workspace while positioning the airport for continued growth.

The FAA provided $31.7 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to construct the new tower. The FAA also awarded $10 million through IIJA to expand and modernize the airport’s terminal, increasing gate capacity from five to 12.

Additional modernization efforts:

Through the Brand New Air Traffic Control System, the AVL tower will receive key equipment upgrades which will be installed by the end of 2028. These include:  

• New radars. These will provide controllers an aircraft's position, altitude, flight number and if the aircraft is in an emergency status. These state-of-the-art radars will also make future repairs easier to identify and solve, which will reduce flight delays and cancellations.    
• Modern voice switches. These replace analog systems from the 1990s and enable controllers to more easily switch channels and connect faster than ever before. That means improved communication with aircraft, adjacent facilities and internal phone systems. 
• Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI). It enables air traffic controllers to track aircraft and vehicles in real-time in any weather condition, and where aircraft may be out of sight from the control tower. This vital technology will reduce delays and improve runway safety efficiency. 

  Additionally, the FAA recently installed a new Tower Simulation System (TSS) at Asheville. This allows controllers to train in a controlled environment by projecting airport-specific operations and scenarios. TSS can speed up training times by almost 30 percent. 

  Media can download b-roll from inside the Asheville air traffic control tower and a quote from Administrator Bedford.