Airport Control Tower Begins Operations

For the first time since it opened nearly 62 years ago, pilots who use the Georgetown Municipal Airport will be flying in controlled air space. The new air traffic control tower begins operations tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm. During those hours, pilots must clear take-offs, landings, and taxi-way movements with an air traffic controller in the tower. Starting next week, operating hours extend from 7 am to 11 pm.

To mark the opening of the tower, the public is invited to a dedication on Tuesday, October 23 at 10 a.m. After the official dedication by Mayor Gary Nelon, a limited number of people will be allowed to take an elevator ride to visit the control room of the 85-foot tower, which is now the tallest occupied structure in Georgetown. (Georgetown Municipal Airport employee Betty Jo Patterson in front of the tower, at right.)

The new air traffic controllers and Airport staff met with local pilots last week to answer questions about tower operations. Travis McLain, the manager of the Airport, said about 30 pilots attended the meeting. All pilots have experience in communicating with air traffic controllers in order to get their license, though such rules may be less reflexive to pilots who usually have flown in and out of uncontrolled fields like Georgetown.

Pilots are being notified about the new rules with broadcasted radio messages that use the old-school name of “notices to airmen” or NOTAMs. The air traffic controllers are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and are employees of RVA Robinson Aviation through a contract with the FAA.

In addition to paying for ongoing staffing costs, the FAA contributed $1.5 million toward the cost of building and equipping the tower, which was $2.1 million. FAA funding comes from aviation taxes and fees.

The City’s airport fund provided $521,391 for the construction cost of the tower. The airport fund comes solely from revenues generated at the Airport, including sales taxes from aviation businesses, hangar leases, and fuel sales.

A donation of $50,000 from the Central Texas Airshow to the airport fund also helped to pay for equipment and construction costs for the tower. Held in Temple since 2003, the Airshow was held at the Georgetown Municipal Airport from 1987 to 2002.

The tower was built by Fazzone Construction Company of Cedar Park and designed by the engineering firm PBS&J. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division assisted with project coordination.

Directions to the Airport

The Georgetown Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport serving the Georgetown area. Go to the following page for driving directions and a map to the Airport.

To contact the Georgetown Municipal Airport, call (512) 930-3666 or email via the link below.

For questions about this article, please contact airport@georgetowntx.org.