Ever wonder how the skies above Savannah stay organized? The KSAV Control Tower is the answer. This imposing structure, just northwest of Savannah’s Historic District, is the nerve center for Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. It’s been guiding aircraft safely since its construction in 1942, back when the airport was known as Chatham Field. KSAV Control Tower has witnessed a lot of history. Initially built for the US Army Air Corps during World War II, it later transitioned to civilian use as air travel boomed. The airport’s first passenger terminal, a humble converted theater, wouldn’t be replaced until 1960. A further upgrade came in 1994 with a brand new, $21 million terminal. KSAV Control Tower has seen the airport evolve through the jet age, the arrival and departure of international routes, and the steady growth of domestic travel. Today, the tower operates from 6 am to midnight local time, coordinating the constant flow of aircraft. Inside, air traffic controllers use radar, communication systems, and their expertise to ensure safe takeoffs, landings, and taxiing. They manage everything from small private planes to large commercial jets. One of the more unusual facts about KSAV Control Tower’s history involves the graves embedded in runway 10/28. When the runway was extended, it encroached upon the Dotson family plot. Due to federal law and the family’s wishes, the graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson remain, marked by concrete stones within the runway itself. It’s a sobering reminder of the history layered beneath the modern airport. So next time you see a plane soaring above Savannah, remember the KSAV Control Tower, silently orchestrating the dance of air traffic, a testament to the enduring power of history and the constant pursuit of safe skies.
KSAV Control Tower
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