After Years In The Works, Abilene Regional Airport Welcomes New Air Traffic Control Tower
By: Gina Benitez
Updated: May 2, 2012
Looking out into the Abilene skyline, you'll now notice something new. Abilene Regional Airport has a new air traffic control tower.
"I think it's a huge improvement in safety and of course it means we'll be able to handle even more traffic into and out of Abilene," says Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
The tower is 145 feet tall and more than twice the size of the original one built over 50 years ago.
"With our maintenence base here that employs over about 250 people and air service in the community, having a new tower like this are great improvements for the air industry and for travel," says Dale Morris, Managing Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines.
With the new bird's eye view of this tower, visibility that was once obstructed on certain taxiways and runways is now available.
The project was in the works for more than a decade - and now that it's finished, those involved hope other nearby cities will look at it as an example.
Morris says, "Abilene is really on the map. They're doing some great things. We're quite proud of them and we enjoy such a great partnership."
"This delay was way too long and there was a real safety issue. So I was able to work to get that appropriation that got us started then," says Hutchison.
Something both those traveling and those living in the city can be happy about.
"I think it's a huge improvement in safety and of course it means we'll be able to handle even more traffic into and out of Abilene," says Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
The tower is 145 feet tall and more than twice the size of the original one built over 50 years ago.
"With our maintenence base here that employs over about 250 people and air service in the community, having a new tower like this are great improvements for the air industry and for travel," says Dale Morris, Managing Director of Government Affairs for American Airlines.
With the new bird's eye view of this tower, visibility that was once obstructed on certain taxiways and runways is now available.
The project was in the works for more than a decade - and now that it's finished, those involved hope other nearby cities will look at it as an example.
Morris says, "Abilene is really on the map. They're doing some great things. We're quite proud of them and we enjoy such a great partnership."
"This delay was way too long and there was a real safety issue. So I was able to work to get that appropriation that got us started then," says Hutchison.
Something both those traveling and those living in the city can be happy about.
