Murfreesboro is edging closer to getting its first air traffic control tower after city leaders applied to join the Federal Aviation Administration’s Federal Contract Tower Program. The plan, still in the early stages, would put a sponsor-owned tower at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport and bring federally funded staffing and construction support to the field. City documents put the total project cost at roughly $7 to $9 million and say a tower would expand capacity, improve safety, and attract more business aviation as traffic at the airport continues to climb.
City officials walked through the concept in a Facebook reel released Sunday and in a municipal news release that says the airport has completed a siting analysis identifying several possible tower locations. City of Murfreesboro, TN - Government highlights those early steps, while a Sept. 18, 2025, city news release details the federally funded siting study and consultant work. City of Murfreesboro notes that the FAA will use the siting study as part of its selection and design review process.
The Federal Aviation Administration has already signaled support. Its FY2026 Contract Tower recommended selections list Murfreesboro Municipal Airport for environmental-engineering funding, and the agency’s FCT program outlines how IIJA grants help airports move from study to construction. The Federal Aviation Administration document recommends funding the environmental-engineering phase at MBT, and the program page explains the competitive grant process. Federal Aviation Administration
The Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, at 1930 Memorial Blvd, is a busy general-aviation field and a major training base for Middle Tennessee State University’s Aerospace program. The city reports more than 90,000 operations a year, driven heavily by training flights and business aviation. City of Murfreesboro lists the airport’s address and tenants, while university materials outline the program’s fleet and flight hours. Middle Tennessee State University
What’s next for the project
From here, the project moves into environmental review, final site selection, and FAA design approval before any construction can start. Local coverage notes that the city council signed off on the siting study in 2025 and that engineering and height studies are already underway as part of the early design work. Rutherford Source reports that, if approvals fall into place, a tower could be in service within several years.
Why a tower matters
City leaders and airport supporters argue that a control tower would boost safety, smooth out peak traffic, and make Murfreesboro more competitive for business aviation. Middle Tennessee State University’s large flight program fuels much of the daily activity at the field, and university materials show the program generates significant local operations. At the same time, national audits and industry reporting have flagged ongoing air traffic controller staffing shortfalls that could complicate hiring and operations for contract towers. Middle Tennessee State University and Aviation International News provide context on both the local training demands and the national staffing picture.
“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,” Airport Director Chad Gehrke said in city materials. Rutherford Source published the quote, and the city’s news release outlines additional steps in the process.
