New Airport Tower Will Overshadow Orlando's Spire

ATLANTA-Orlando is about to lose its title as the city with the tallest airport tower in the nation. The Federal Aviation Administration is building a 398-foot office, parking and observation structure at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that will overshadow Orlando’s 345-foot tower. Miami International Airport has a 333-foot tall tower.The FAA already has about 100 feet of the Atlanta tower built, but Hartsfield-Jackson will pay the $31 million cost of the project. The job is scheduled for completion in May 2006. The new tower is near the existing 232-foot structure and will comprise a three-story office building and a parking deck at the base of the structure.Hartsfield-Jackson officials say they need the new tower to handle the air traffic control growth that the under-construction fifth runway will generate. Up to 13 air-traffic controllers direct incoming and outgoing aircraft daily. The new tower is also part of the airport’s $5.4-billion expansion program that includes the new runway, an international terminal and another general-use terminal near the fifth runway.