CHA
Chattanooga Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Chattanooga, Tennessee
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | CHA |
| Facility Name | Chattanooga Tower |
| Airport Name | Lovell Fld |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 7
Show historyHide history
• Prior to Jan 2022: Level 6
|
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0600-2350 |
| Airspace Class | Class C |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZTL |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 5921 Pinehurst Ave Chattanooga, TN 37421 |
| Phone Number | 423-855-6475 |
Salary Information
2026 pay for Chattanooga Tower, built from the FAA Air Traffic Specialized Pay Plan bands:
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Total Pay Min. | Total Pay Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $47.54 | $64.17 | $99,209 | $133,931 |
| D3 | $42.25 | $47.54 | $88,171 | $99,209 |
| D2 | $36.96 | $42.25 | $77,131 | $88,171 |
| AG | $26.38 | $26.38 | $55,049 | $55,049 |
| Total Pay combines Basic Pay, Locality Pay. It excludes premium pay for overtime, nights, Sundays, and holidays. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 7 |
| Locality Area | Rest of U.S. |
| Locality Pay | 17.06% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 91.5 (8.5% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $108,473 |
How this pay is calculated
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band maximum) | $114,412 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $19,519 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $133,931 |
| = Total Pay | $133,931 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 CPC band minimum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $14,458 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $99,209 |
| = Total Pay | $99,209 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band maximum) | $84,751 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $14,458 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $99,209 |
| = Total Pay | $99,209 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D3 band minimum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $12,850 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $88,171 |
| = Total Pay | $88,171 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band maximum) | $75,321 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $12,850 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $88,171 |
| = Total Pay | $88,171 |
| Basic Pay (Level 7 D2 band minimum) | $65,890 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $11,241 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $77,131 |
| = Total Pay | $77,131 |
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $8,023 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,049 |
| = Total Pay | $55,049 |
The AG band is a single national rate, so the top and bottom of the band are the same.
| Basic Pay (Academy Graduate band, set nationally) | $47,026 |
|---|---|
| + Locality Pay (17.06% of Basic Pay for Rest of U.S.) | + $8,023 |
| = Adjusted Basic Pay (counts toward your High-3) | $55,049 |
| = Total Pay | $55,049 |
The AG band is a single national rate, so the top and bottom of the band are the same.
Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so lines can differ from the total by a dollar or two.
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 19 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 18 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 100.00% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
137.10% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 8.3 |
| ↳ Temporary Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Committed Outbounds | - 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 1.7 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
9 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 2 | 7 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.55 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 2.06 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.79 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 93% |
| ↳ New Hires | 94% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 91% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 2 days |
Historical Trends
CHA Staffing Percentages
CHA Personnel Counts
CHA Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 90.53% |
| Gaining Target | 101.64% |
| Possible Gains | 0 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 1 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 3 |
| ↳ Standard | 3 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| Last Standard Release | Recently |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#280 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
3 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
1 (5.6%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 94,402 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 112,057 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 206,459 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 566 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 7 Up/Down) |
206,060 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +0.2% vs peer median |