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Kissimmee Gateway Airport
The Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) Air Control Tower (ATCT) reported an increase in air traffic in 2019 in comparison to 2018.
“The Kissimmee ATCT handled 134,375 ground operations (actual aircraft takeoff and landings at ISM), up 24 percent over 2018. Also, the ATCT handled 156,927 total operations (combined ground operations with aircraft flying through the local airspace communicating with the ATCT), up 10 percent over 2018,” said Shaun Germolus, Kissimmee Gateway Airport director.
This is a continuous trend for Kissimmee Gateway Airport during the past four years, with each year averaging 13 percent over the previous year. The Kissimmee ATCT serves as a vital function to the region by providing reliever operations to Orlando International Airport handling general aviation jet and piston-powered aircraft to and from Kissimmee Gateway. Also, the ATCT personnel assists with the multiple daily flight instruction operations occurring at the airport and ensures they are separated from airline traffic.
Besides, the airport’s proximity to the region’s theme parks and convention centers also emphasizes the importance of the Air Traffic Control Tower responsibilities guiding aircraft through the airspace, ensuring a safe environment.
Last year, the Kissimmee Gateway Airport celebrated its 3,000,000-operation. The three millionth flight arrived at Odyssey Aviation, marking another milestone for the Kissimmee Gateway Airport’s tower, which was first staffed 22 years ago.
The Kissimmee ATCT is a non-Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract tower owned by the City of Kissimmee. The air traffic control is staffed by employees of a private company, Robinson Aviation (RVA), Inc. The employees at Kissimmee ATCT all meet the same qualifications and training requirements as FAA air traffic controllers, and many are retired FAA and military air traffic controllers.
KISM can accommodate up to Boeing 737 Business Jet aircraft, as well as Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. The main runway has a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category I precision approach (ILS) for all-weather landings, and the Air Traffic Control Tower is staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
For more information about the city of Kissimmee, visit www.kissimmee.org.
