Remarks as prepared for delivery.

Thank you, Michael [O’Harra]. Good morning!

I’m happy we’ve come together to celebrate this new tower at Charlotte-Douglas airport.

Here we are, nearly 120 years later after that famous first flight in North Carolina. Aviation continues to be an invaluable part of this state, American life and our national economy.

That’s why the FAA is committed to investing in our nation’s aviation infrastructure, including at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

This is one of the busiest airports in the nation. And the new, taller air traffic control tower will allow it to grow in the future.

Rising to a height of 370 feet, Charlotte-Douglas Control Tower is now the second-tallest one in the country.   

It gives air traffic controllers an unobstructed view of the entire airfield, and they have the latest satellite, communications and weather technology.  

We built it with design innovations to withstand shaking in the case of seismic events. And the new tower has dual-fed commercial power and dual-engine generators to limit interruptions to air traffic service during maintenance.

Also, the new tower was designed using the Guiding Principles for High Performance Sustainable Buildings. It has several green features including energy-efficient lighting, heating, cooling, and plumbing. 

So, in addition to providing safe, efficient air traffic service, we’re one step closer to the Administration’s 2050 net-zero emissions goal. 

I want to thank the entire project team – including our engineers and technicians who completed the job from start to finish.

COVID-19 created a big challenge for the construction schedule. 

We had to take special care to minimize health risks to crew members. We had to separate installation teams to complete various aspects of the project.

Despite these challenges, they ensured a safe cutover from the old facility to the new one. 

This is just one example of the kinds of investments we’re making at Charlotte-Douglas.

In fact, next year, we’ll be implementing new software that calculates the best time for aircraft to push back from the gate at busy hub airports, so they can roll right to the runway.

And through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed last year, and through the FAA’s annual grants to airports, we will continue to support aviation infrastructure here in North Carolina.   

Through all of these efforts, we’re taking aviation to greater heights than the Wright Brothers could have envisioned. 

The FAA is committed to making flying more efficient and environmentally sustainable, while ensuring that all safety needs are met. 

Thank you, and now I’d like to introduce the FAA’s Vice President for Air Traffic Services, Jeffrey Vincent. He has a video message for everyone.