New ATC tower dedicated at Dulles International Airport

Air traffic controllers at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) have a new home. The new air traffic control tower at IAD officially began service yesterday, replacing the old tower that had been in service since the airport opened in 1962.

According to an FAA Fact Sheet about the new ATC tower, it is 300 feet tall to the cab. The tower has a two-story, 16,440 square-foot base building and environmental support structure. Equipment located in the new tower includes:

• ASDE-X
• Enhanced Terminal Voice Switch
• Voice Switch By-Pass
• Digital Voice Recorder System
• Integrated Control and Monitoring System of the Navigational Aid facilities
• Traffic Management Advisory
• FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure
• Fiber Optic Transmission System
• Motorola CM-200 radios
• A new airfield copper cable plant
• Other fiber optics

In order to improve communication and save money, the FAA has relocated the Contract Weather Observer as well as the Airport Surface Observing System to the new tower.

The new tower is located about one mile south of the old tower. Although no longer in operation, the old tower will remain in place.

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