But They're Stuck With It Until 2009

In a sense, controllers at Florida's Opa-locka Airport have gotten what they wanted: a new control tower, to replace their old 141-foot tower that, after withstanding two hurricanes, was falling apart. Well, they are in a new control tower... or, more accurately, a trailer.

That's not the worst of it, however. The Miami Herald reports that until the new, permanent, $11 million control tower is completed -- which won't happen until 2009 at the earliest -- controllers at OPF will be forced to make due with the temporary control trailer the FAA has given them (an example of an FAA temporary tower is shown at right.)

While not without its artistic qualities -- Charles Danger, the top building official with Miami-Dade County, says "I guess you can call it a piece of modern art" -- the tower, perched precariously on top of two steel cargo containers welded together to lift it 33 feet off the ground, has very few fans.

"This is not a structure that meets any code whatsoever," Danger added.

Indeed, controllers have to climb a ladder to get inside... and even then, the tower is not tall enough to give controllers a view of the entire field.

"They can't see where you taxi out," said pilot Rene Martin, echoing sentiments of many pilots at Opa-locka.

The temporary tower trailer in place at Opa-locka is one of several in the FAA's fleet, and is usually used during weekend airshows at smaller airfields, or during emergencies. Such towers are seldom in service much longer than a month... nevermind three years.

Danger says the tower poses, well, a danger to controllers, especially during storms. What's worse, Danger says the tower itself -- and its cargo container base -- could become a piece of flying debris should another hurricane hit the South Florida area.

While she admits the tower now in use at OPF is "a little unconventional," FAA spokesman Kathleen Bergen adds the tower is safe... and that as a federal entity, FAA buildings don't need to meet codes, anyway.

That will likely come as little comfort to controllers and pilots alike at Opa-locka, which is already gearing up for an influx of air traffic during next year's Super Bowl.

The new tower -- which has been held up several times over funding issues -- is slated to be ready in early 2009.

FMI: www.miami-airport.com/html/opalocka.html