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S. 3512Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Increased Aviation Safety through Contract Towers Act

Sponsored by Catherine Cortez MastoSen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Introduced September 26, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:51 PM UTC

The bill amends Title 49 of the U.S. Code to let the FAA Secretary award grants from the Small Airport Fund for building or upgrading non‑approach control towers at airports. It also covers purchasing and installing the necessary air‑traffic control and communications equipment for those towers. The change is aimed at improving aviation safety at smaller airports that lack full‑service control towers.

Key Provisions

  • Allow the Secretary to provide Small Airport Fund grants to airport sponsors for construction or improvement of a non‑approach control tower and related equipment, subject to existing distribution and eligibility requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

September 26, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 26, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

September 26, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 26, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3512

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 26, 2018

Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Risch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize grants from the small airport fund for the construction or improvement of a nonapproach control tower.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Increased Aviation Safety through Contract Towers Act.

2.

Construction of certain control towers

Section 47116(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3)

Control tower construction

Notwithstanding any provision of section 47124(b)(4)(A), the Secretary may provide grants under this section to an airport sponsor for the construction or improvement of a nonapproach control tower, as defined by the Secretary, and for the acquisition and installation of air traffic control, communications, and related equipment to be used in that tower. Such grants shall be subject to the distribution requirements of subsection (b) and the eligibility requirements of section 47124(b)(4)(B).

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