Back in September, media and the public got to see the new state-of-the-art tower at the Missoula Airport, but the facility is still in the final phase of completion before it can be utilized.

Airport manager Chris Jensen says the final electronics and some adjustments with the HVAC system are being completed, so that all the systems are fully operational before the tower will be officially open for business. There is no specific date, but airport officials will release that information when all systems are ready.

Jensen says the new tower took about three years to complete, at a cost of just over $6 million dollars, paid for by funds from the Federal Aviation Administration. Jensen says the new tower will have the only highly advanced 'heads-up' display for controllers in the country, so they can keep their eyes on the sky, rather than looking down to see display screens.

Jensen says the old tower was built in the early 1960's, and was definitely ready to be replaced, especially with record-breaking traffic coming through the airport.

Missoula Airport Manager Chris Jensen

 

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