Council Oks Murfreesboro Airport ‘Siting’ Study for Control Tower

The Murfreesboro City Council has approved the next step for a proposed air traffic control tower at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport. On Sept. 18, 2025, Council unanimously approved on a 4-0 vote a Federal and State Grant to complete the "siting analysis" and report for the proposed tower. The $145,700 proposed grant to complete the study is 95 percent federally funded through assistance from the Tennessee Aeronautics Division within TDOT.

Barge Design Solutions, the airport consultant, is assisting the City through the process and tasks required with siting of an air traffic control tower. A siting analysis is a preconstruction process of evaluating a location before a project begins. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will use the information and data provided by Barge as part of its decision-making.

"Working with the FAA and other agencies to provide air traffic control services to Murfreesboro Municipal Airport is another way to enhance safety and capacity while bolstering economic development," said Airport Director Chad Gehrke.

The local share of the grant is $7,825 or 5% of the total cost and will be paid through the Airport Fund. Council also separately approved a work authorization of $63,589 for Barge to complete the analysis and report, which is 90 percent federally funded with $3,179 or 5 percent locally funded though the Airport Fund.

Council first gave approval Sept. 21, 2023, for the Municipal Airport to submit application to participate in the FAA Federal Contract Tower Program. Before a control tower is approved and constructed, several preliminary studies must be completed including, siting, environmental, and design. The cost of the Control Tower, including required studies and reports through construction, is estimated to be $7 to $9 million over several years. The FAA assists with 90 percent of the cost and pays for salaries of five to six air traffic controllers.

As Murfreesboro grows, maintenance and improvement of the City's Airport is an economic growth and development priority. A Federal Contract Tower program would continue to enhance Airport services.

"The Airport Commission continues to invest in technology, consultant services, and Standard Operating Procedures, coordinated with the FAA and Tennessee Aeronautics Division," added Gehrke. "Collaborating with our federal and state partners along with commercial operators is a combined effort to improve operations and enhance safety at our airport."

Quadrex Aviation studied Murfreesboro Airport's qualifications for the FAA program that provides air traffic services. The study determined that the Murfreesboro Airport qualifies for the program and validated the need for the control tower with and without MTSU flight training at the airport. It comes as Nashville International Airport continues to grow and expand.

The Middle Tennessee State University Aerospace program has announced that it will be vacating Murfreesboro Airport property and relocating operations to Shelbyville. The airport has noted that while MTSU aircraft operations are decreasing, other personal and business aircraft operations are utilizing the airport and making up that difference.

The Airport's 16,000-square-foot terminal includes a large main lobby with raised and ground level observation areas, lounge seating, a large leasable Business Center, smaller conference room space, pilot lounge, and office space.

For more information, contact Airport Office at 615-848-3254 or

visit the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport webpage at https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/95/Airport

For City News online, visit www.Murfreesborotn.gov