Regulations & Safety
FAA Launches Pilot Program to Convert Contract Towers to FAA Operation
FAA begins pilot program transitioning select contract towers at Bozeman and Phoenix-Mesa into FAA-operated facilities to address controller shortages.
This article is based on an official press release from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On May 18, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the launch of a new pilot program designed to transition select high-activity Federal Contract Towers (FCTs) into fully FAA-owned and operated facilities. Currently staffed by private-sector employees, these towers will be integrated directly into the federal system in an effort to standardize air traffic controller training and fortify the national controller workforce pipeline.
According to the FAA’s official press release, the first two candidate airports selected for this transition are Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (Montana) and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (Arizona). Both represent highly active, rapidly growing regional hubs that have experienced increasing airspace complexity in recent years.
The initiative arrives as the aviation industry continues to grapple with a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. By absorbing qualified contract tower controllers into the federal workforce, the FAA aims to maintain safety standards while building a more robust and flexible staffing model for the future.
The Pilot Program and Legislative Mandate
The transition of these contract towers is not merely an internal policy shift; it is a legally required initiative. According to the provided research data, the program is mandated by Section 625 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, which was enacted in May 2024 to address vulnerabilities in the national airspace system.
Funding and Timeline
To support the transition, the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations Act provided $6 million in funding for the pilot program. The FAA estimates that the entire transition process for the selected towers will take between 29 and 44 months to successfully complete.
The agency is utilizing a phased approach to ensure there are no disruptions to operational continuity. Furthermore, the FAA is required to submit a congressionally mandated Safety Analysis Report within six months of the operational transition for the candidate towers. This report will detail findings and insights from the conversion process, which will be used to assess the feasibility of converting other high-activity contract towers in the future.
Candidate Airports: Bozeman and Phoenix-Mesa
The FAA prioritized contract towers that met specific operational and passenger enplanement criteria. The selection of Bozeman and Phoenix-Mesa highlights the agency’s focus on airports facing unique growth and infrastructure demands.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport serves as the busiest commercial airport in Montana and acts as a primary gateway to Yellowstone National Park and the Big Sky Resort. In recent years, BZN has faced significant staffing challenges at its contract tower. According to the provided background report, the airport authority has historically had to use its own funds to pay for additional contract controllers to extend tower operating hours and manage peak traffic.
The selection of BZN follows heavy lobbying from Montana’s congressional delegation. In March 2026, U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Representative Ryan Zinke, sent a formal letter to the FAA strongly urging the airport’s inclusion in the pilot program.
“The FAA is now well positioned to move forward expeditiously in carrying out the program and we believe BZN should be one of the first airports selected for consideration,” the Montana Congressional Delegation stated in their March 2026 letter.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA)
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is the second-busiest FAA Contract Air Traffic Control Tower in the United States and a massive economic driver for its region, generating an estimated $1.8 billion in annual economic impact.
The airport is already well-equipped for the federal transition. In August 2022, Mesa Gateway dedicated the new $30 million John S. McCain III Air Traffic Control Tower. The 199-foot-tall structure features a 550-square-foot cab with eight controller positions, built specifically to handle the airport’s rapid growth and complex airspace.
Addressing the National Controller Shortage
The FAA Contract Tower Program was originally established to allow the agency to contract out air traffic control services at airports that have significant traffic but may not meet the threshold for a fully FAA-staffed tower. These towers operate under strict FAA safety standards but are staffed by employees of private companies, such as Serco.
Transitioning the Workforce
Under the new pilot program, qualified contract tower controllers currently working at BZN and IWA will transition to become FAA-trained and operated employees. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the nationwide controller shortage. Section 625 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act also mandated minimum staffing levels, requiring at least two controllers per shift, at small and medium hub contract towers.
In the official press release, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the administration’s commitment to workforce development.
“This is another step the Trump Administration is taking to add qualified air traffic controllers to our workforce and ensure the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System,” Bedford stated. “As air traffic demand continues to grow, this program will help ensure the FAA has the experienced workforce needed to manage complex operations at these towers.”
AirPro News analysis
We note that this pilot program aligns seamlessly with the broader administrative goals of FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Confirmed in July 2025, Bedford is an aviation industry veteran with over 35 years of experience, including a 26-year tenure as the CEO of Republic Airways. During his time in the private sector, Bedford heavily focused on workforce development, notably launching the LIFT Academy, an airline-owned training facility.
His current push to standardize training and absorb contract controllers into the federal pipeline demonstrates a continuation of his career-long focus on solving aviation staffing bottlenecks. By bringing private-sector controllers under the federal umbrella, the FAA is not only relieving local airport authorities of financial burdens, as seen in Bozeman, but also creating a more standardized, flexible federal workforce capable of being deployed where the national airspace system needs them most.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program?
The FCT Program allows the FAA to contract out air traffic control services to private companies at airports that have significant traffic but do not meet the threshold for a fully FAA-staffed tower. These facilities still operate under strict federal safety standards.
How long will the transition take for the selected airports?
The FAA estimates that the pilot program will take between 29 and 44 months to successfully complete the transition of the selected towers to full FAA operation.
Will current contract controllers lose their jobs?
No. According to the FAA, qualified contract tower controllers currently working at the selected facilities will transition to become FAA-trained and operated federal employees.
Sources
Photo Credit: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport