GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Elected officials, civic leaders, contractors, and 434th Air Refueling Wing and Air Force Reserve Command Airmen all descended on Grissom March 15 for a groundbreaking ceremony, which marked the beginning of construction for a new air traffic control tower here.

The new ATC tower, with a programmed cost of $7.4 million, will replace an existing structure built in 1965 and enhance Grissom's ATC abilities.

When complete, the nine-story tower will provide Grissom's air traffic controllers with increased visibility, space for a control tower simulator to enhance training, increased security, office space for administrative functions, and enhanced environmental controls.

This new addition will not only affect military aviation, but civilian and commercial aviation as well as Grissom is a joint-use aviation facility.

"Many (people) don't realize the controllers at Grissom are responsible for the airspace between Chicago and Indianapolis," said Lt. Col. Gary Lockard, 434th ARW public affair chief. "In recent years, the airspace under control of Grissom air traffic controllers has increased and now ranges all the way to Lafayette, (Ind.)"

The new ATC tower, along with the recently completed radar approach control facility here, will provide Grissom with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that benefit all aviation in the region.

The new tower, which is expected to last the next 50 years, will not only benefit the aviation community but will also provide significant financial impact.

"You don't usually get a lot of $7.4 million projects in north-central Indiana," said Col. William T. "Tim" Cahoon, 434th ARW commander. "There are economic and operational benefits from this, and we'll get good use from it."

Construction on the tower will begin immediately, and the estimated completion date is 2012.

The 434th ARW at Grissom is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in AFRC.

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