Arizona Midair Collision Raises Concerns About Air Traffic Control Towers

Each year, tens of thousands of aircraft take off, land, and engage in touch-and-go exercises at the Marana Regional Airport located in southern Arizona. Lacking an air traffic control tower, pilots must rely on careful communication, making air operations a coordinated effort.

Recently, two small planes were involved in a midair collision near one of Tucson’s runways. One of the planes crashed, igniting a fire that sent a thick plume of black smoke into the sky. Recovery teams discovered the remains of two individuals in the burnt wreckage, while the occupants of the other plane managed to land safely without injuries.

This incident is only the most recent aviation accident to gain attention. Although the details of each situation can differ significantly, experts examining aviation mishaps have noted no discernible connections among them.

Radio chatter has offered initial insights into the events that unfolded in Arizona. A lead flight instructor flying alongside a student that day heard the alarming exchanges: one aircraft was executing a touch-and-go maneuver when it was struck by another attempting to land, clipping its propeller in the process.

Erwin Castillo, affiliated with IFLY Pilot Training, recounted the moment when he heard one pilot urgently exclaim: “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! He just hit us.”

The investigation to uncover the root cause of the crash will be conducted by federal authorities, a meticulous process expected to unfold over several months.

While some commentators propose that the presence of a control tower could have mitigated the situation, experts affirm that airports without towers are still safe; they simply rely on different communication protocols among pilots.

What percentage of US airports have control towers?

Out of approximately 5,100 public airports in the United States, only around 10 percent are equipped with towers staffed by personnel who manage air traffic operations. These facilities represent the busiest airports, characterized by complex operations and numerous commercial flights.

At airports without control towers, pilots depend on radio communication and the “see and avoid” principle to navigate safely. This approach is ingrained in pilots from the very beginning of their training and applies across all types of airspace, according to Mike Ginter, a retired Navy aviator and current senior VP of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute.

He compared the aviation safety practices to the rules drivers learn in driver’s education, emphasizing that pilots, like drivers, follow essential safety procedures instinctively.

“You don’t need to inform local authorities each time you drive to the store. You just drive after ensuring the path is clear and following standard traffic rules,” he noted, highlighting that the fundamentals of safety are deeply embedded in a pilot’s training.

This system has proven effective, considering the high volume of flights operating daily from smaller airports, alongside the approximate 26 million hours logged by general aviation pilots annually.

What led to the establishment of aviation regulations?

In June 1956, two commercial flights departed from Los Angeles in quick succession, one heading to Chicago and the other to Kansas. Operating under visual flight rules, these planes tragically collided over the Grand Canyon, resulting in the deaths of all 128 passengers and crew members. The crash site has since been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Although traffic in U.S. airspace had more than doubled post-World War II, it was this catastrophic event that catalyzed movements toward improving aviation safety standards.

In 1958, legislation was introduced to create a separate federal body tasked with ensuring safe and efficient airspace use. The bill gained rapid approval, leading to the appointment of the first Federal Aviation Agency administrator.

As time passed, the agency evolved into the Federal Aviation Administration, aligning with modernized air traffic control systems.

Are there plans for new control towers?

Through the FAA, airports have the opportunity to apply for federal grants aimed at modernization and the construction of air traffic control towers managed by private companies and contractors instead of direct FAA personnel.

Nearly 180 airports across the country qualify for funding under this initiative, primarily to enhance aging towers — some dating back to the 1940s, and others designed as temporary structures.

A review of funding allocations from this program over the past four fiscal years indicates that several airports have received grants specifically for site assessments, environmental considerations, and construction of new towers. This includes locations in Bend, Oregon; Boulder City, Nevada; and Mankato, Minnesota.

In the case of Marana, the airport was initially accepted into the program in 2019, but plans to build a tower were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Airport management has reported that they are now progressing towards completing the project by 2029.

How could federal job cuts impact air traffic safety?

In late January, former U.S. President Donald Trump directed key transportation officials to conduct an immediate evaluation of aviation safety following a midair collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial aircraft over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The unfortunate incident resulted in 67 fatalities.

Trump raised concerns regarding FAA hiring practices, suggesting that past Democratic administrations had strayed from focusing on merit-based recruitment.

While some positions at the FAA have been eliminated as Trump aimed to streamline federal operations and reduce expenses, reports indicate that fewer than 1% of the agency’s workforce of more than 45,000 were probationary employees affected by these cuts.

Moreover, the administration clarified that no air traffic controllers or essential safety personnel were dismissed amid these workforce adjustments. However, labor and industry representatives have expressed concerns about existing understaffing issues even before the cuts.

Former President Trump stated he would endorse measures to modernize the national air traffic control network. Recently, the industry group Airlines for America urged Congress to provide emergency funding for essential air traffic control technology, infrastructure improvements, and increased training and staffing for air traffic controllers.

By Susan Montoya Bryan