HLN
Helena Tower
FAA Control Tower and Approach Control Helena, Montana
Facility Information
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Identifier | HLN |
| Facility Name | Helena Tower |
| Airport Name | Helena Rgnl |
| Type | Tower and Approach Control |
| Level | Level 5 |
| Core 30 Airport | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | 0600-2200 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLC |
| Airport Diagram | Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| View on full map → | |
| Address | 3100 Airport Rd Helena, MT 59601 |
| Phone Number | 406-449-5756 |
Salary Information
2026 Pay for Helena Tower
| Career Level | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Salary Min. | Salary Max. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPC | $38.93 | $52.56 | $81,249 | $109,685 |
| D3 | $35.79 | $38.93 | $74,698 | $81,249 |
| AG | $26.38 | $26.38 | $55,049 | $55,049 |
| Includes everything except premium pay. | ||||
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Level | Level 5 |
| Locality Area | Rest of U.S. |
| Locality Pay | 17.06% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 95.7 (4.3% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Min | $84,917 |
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Board | 8 CPCs |
| CPC Target (CWP) | 11 CPCs |
| Current Staffing | 72.73% |
|
Projected Staffing
Show componentsHide components
|
106.67% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.7 |
| ↳ Committed Inbounds | + 1 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.6 |
|
Number of Trainees
Show breakdownHide breakdown
|
6 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 3 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 3 |
| Training Information, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg) | 1.67 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.77 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.62 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg) | 62% |
| ↳ New Hires | 60% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 89% |
| Travel Days from Academy | 4 days |
Historical Trends
HLN Staffing Percentages
HLN Personnel Counts
HLN Training Metrics
NCEPT
NCEPT manages controller-requested transfers between FAA facilities.
| Eligibility & Staffing, July 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Staffing Source | Academy Sourced |
| TSL (One Training Time) | 90.92% |
| Gaining Target | 109.10% |
| Possible Gains | 1 |
| Primary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Secondary Releases Avail. | 0 |
| Transfer Activity | |
|---|---|
| Releases, Past 3 Yrs | 2 |
| ↳ Standard | 2 |
| ↳ Priority/Other | 0 |
| Gains, Past 3 Yrs | 0 |
| Last Standard Release | 1.8 years ago |
| ERR Demand History | |
|---|---|
| Priority / Draft Order Mar 2026 |
#73 |
| Inbound ERRs on File Feb 2026 |
0 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRs Feb 2026 |
0 (0%) |
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Traffic
| June 2025 - May 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 50,379 operations/yr |
| TRACON Operations | 26,981 operations/yr |
| Total Operations | 77,360 operations/yr |
| Average Daily Operations | 212 operations/day |
| Peer Group Median (Lvl 5 Up/Down) |
77,360 operations/yr |
| Relative Workload | +0.0% vs peer median |