City approves pursuing $2.5 million FAA design grant for new San Angelo control tower

San Angelo City Council on Feb. 3 voted to pursue a $2.5 million notice of funding opportunity from the Federal Aviation Administration for design, airspace analysis and siting for a new air traffic control tower at San Angelo Regional Airport.

Airport Director Justin Fletcher said the current tower dates to the 1950s, has aging facilities and radio equipment that must communicate with modern digital systems, and lacks ADA access. Fletcher said the NOFO is part of a larger $120 million FAA funding opportunity for Federal Contract Towers (FCT), and that the design NOFO would fund airspace analysis, siting and design work.

Fletcher warned of a risk: if the city accepts design funding and the project then "goes idle," the FAA could request reimbursement of the $2.5 million. He estimated a total project cost of about $15 million from design through construction and urged the council to pursue the NOFO while engaging congressional representatives and the FAA project manager as good‑faith partners. Fletcher said local matching and multiple funding sources (AIG, ATP, entitlements, discretionary and potential local dollars) could be arranged if the design work progresses.

Council members asked about the potential to regain military flights and expressed broad support for pursuing the application. Council approved moving forward with the NOFO application by voice vote, recorded as 6–0.