St. Pete Airport Has New $3.1 Million Control Tower

ST. PETERSBURG – The city's downtown airport – which largely serves private pilots and single-engine planes – has a new $3.1 million control tower.

The new tower is built to withstand winds of 130 mph and has a backup generator, both big advantages during hurricane season.

The public is invited to ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new tower, at Albert Whitted Airport, 550 Fifth Ave S.E., on Friday, at 10 a.m.

The new tower features an eight-sided observation room for controllers. Building sides are pre-cast concrete panels with deeply textured vertical channels.

The design of the tower recognizes the historic significance of the airport in St. Petersburg history. It has in-lays of vintage airplanes, including the 1914 Benoist airboat and the 1920s Ryan Brougham aircraft. St. Petersburg is known as the birthplace of the first scheduled air flight, which took place in 1914; the airport opened in 1923.

The development of the new tower was paid for with federal funds, including $2.1 million from the FAA, which was lobbied for by U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young. Another $1 million came from stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reconstruction Act.

In addition to commercial and private aviation, the airport is used by the Civil Air Patrol, Bayflight Medavac and various organ transplant flying services such as Care Flight. The airport also is home to the Hangar Restaurant, where diners can watch planes take off and land.