FAA and City of Monroe Study Future Site of Air Traffic Control
The City of Monroe is pleased to announce that representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were on site at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport (EQY) on September 3 and 4, 2025, to study and select the future location of the airport’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower. This effort used advanced 3D modeling to help determine the best location and height for the tower to ensure safe and efficient airport operations.
Attendees included:
Mayor Robert Burns
Council Member James Kerr
Mark Watson, City Manager
Lisa Hollowell, Assistant City Manager
Malcolm Weeks, Airport Manager
Gary Wilfong, Airport Commission Chair
Mark Libby, Air Traffic Manager Charlotte
Michael Player, Talbert, Bright and Ellington (City’s Engineer of Record)
Patrick Turney, Talbert, Bright and Ellington (City’s Engineer of Record)
John Seliga, FAA – Terminal, Surveillance, & Weather Program Implementation Management(PIM) Team
Background on FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program
In November 2023, the City of Monroe was officially accepted into the FAA’s Contract Tower Program, a significant milestone and ensures federal funding for contracted tower operations. Under this arrangement, the FAA will cover operational costs, while the City of Monroe is responsible for constructing the tower using grants, financial assistance, and City resources. The City has already received six million in funding from the North Carolina General Assembly. The City has until November 2028 to complete construction and bring the tower online.
The new tower will be the first of its kind at Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. It will support the airport's growth, improve safety for pilots and passengers, and help position the airport as a regional hub for business and general aviation.
City Manager Mark Watson added, “It is exciting to see this project moving forward. Having the FAA conduct the siting study for our new Air Traffic Control Tower is a critical step to move this project along. We are grateful to the General Assembly for providing six million dollars to make this possible. This investment will strengthen safety, support future growth, and ensure Monroe’s airport is well positioned for years to come.”
“I was honored to participate in the process employed by the FAA to ascertain the optimal location for our airport tower,” said Mayor Robert Burns. “My primary objective is to ensure that the construction and placement of the tower do not exceed the allocated funds from the state while simultaneously maximizing its utilization for future airport development plans. We are diligently working to expedite this process so that we can proceed with the next significant project that will bring immense benefits to our entire city. I extend my sincere gratitude to our staff and the FAA for their invaluable time and guidance in facilitating this endeavor.”
“The City of Monroe is proud to maintain one of the busiest general aviation airports in the state of North Carolina. We have been working tirelessly to have the final component to this equation, which is a contracted tower. As always, our number one goal is safety, and this addition to our airport campus is essential. It will serve our many base customers into the future,” said Councilmember James Kerr.
Site selection is a critical step, as it can shape the Airport’s growth and influence future development opportunities. The process is both detailed and engaging, offering simulations of the vantage point from each proposed site under varying visibility conditions, including dawn, dusk, and different weather scenarios. Participants can experience these perspectives firsthand, helping to determine the viability of each location for an Air Traffic Control Tower.
“The City’s goal has been to select the site that serves both current and long-term economic development needs for the future,” said Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell.
For more information or media coverage opportunities, please contact Communications@Monroenc.org
