Abstract:
This study reveals whether or not an air traffic control tower would improve safety at
Murfreesboro Municipal Airport based upon the perceptions of pilots and controllers
familiar with the airport. The airport has a high amount of local traffic in comparison to
nearby airports with air traffic control towers. This high amount of traffic has proven to
be a hazard to other aircraft without adequate management. A safety survey was
distributed to pilots who fly out of Murfreesboro Airport and to air traffic controllers who
frequently interact with those pilots. The safety survey results, as well as safety reports
filed by Middle Tennessee State University pilots, reveal that an air traffic control tower
would be beneficial to prevent incidents that could diminish safety. The air traffic
control tower would also benefit students’ abilities to talk to air traffic control and
possibly improve MTSU’s air traffic control program by providing integrated learning
with the tower.
