WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04) celebrated the selection of Mesa Gateway Airport as one of only two airports in the nation chosen to participate in a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot program that will transition high-activity contract air traffic control towers to direct FAA staffing and management.
Stanton worked across party lines to create the Contract Tower Conversion pilot program as part of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act. The program converts select high-activity contract towers — currently staffed by private companies rather than FAA employees — to FAA-staffed Visual Flight Rules towers, while allowing qualified contract air traffic controllers to remain at their current facilities. More than 70 percent of those controllers are veterans.
Mesa Gateway is the busiest contract tower in the nation and the 37th busiest tower in the country. Severe air traffic controller staffing shortages, however, have forced operational changes at the airport — making its selection for this program particularly timely.
“I fought to create this pilot program because Mesa Gateway's growth depends on it, and so does the safety of everyone flying in and out of the East Valley. Getting this across the finish line is a win for our airport, our air traffic controllers, and Mesa’s economy,” said Rep. Stanton.
“Mesa Gateway Airport’s selection as one of the first two airports to participate in this new FAA pilot program would not have been possible without the steadfast support of Representative Stanton and our outstanding Arizona Congressional Delegation,” airport officials said. “Their efforts to include this provision in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act will have a positive, long-term impact on the economy of the Phoenix East Valley. We are grateful for the Delegation’s partnership and excited about what this milestone means for the continued growth of our Airport and our region.”
Of the more than 450 air traffic control towers across the United States, 264 currently operate under the FAA's Contract Tower Program, in which private contractors manage air traffic control duties. The transition at Mesa Gateway will bring its tower under direct FAA training and operations.
Mesa Gateway generates more than $2 billion in annual economic impact and has seen record-setting growth in recent years. In 2023, the airport completed construction of a new $30 million FAA-compliant air traffic control tower — federal funding that Stanton helped secure.