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 |
| Leveli | Level 5 |
| Core 30 Airporti | No |
| Airspace & Operations | |
|---|---|
| Hours of Operationi | 0600-2200 |
| Airspace Class | Class D |
| Overlying ARTCC | ZLC |
| Airport Diagram | View Airport Diagram (PDF) |
| Location & Contact | |
|---|---|
| Address | 3100 Airport Rd Helena, MT 59601 |
| Phone Number | 406-449-5756 |
Salary Information
2026 Pay for Helena Tower
| Career Leveli | Hourly Min. | Hourly Max. | Salary Min. | Salary Max.i |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||||
| Pay Factors | |
|---|---|
| Facility Leveli | Level 5 |
| Locality Area | Rest of U.S. |
| Locality Payi | 17.06% |
| Local Affordability | |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living Indexi | 95.7 (4.3% below avg) |
| Cost-Adjusted CPC Mini | $84,917 |
ATC pay has stalled over the past decade. Marangos & Brown are on a mission to increase pay.
Staffing and Training
| Staffing Information, April 2026 | |
|---|---|
| CPCs on Boardi | 7 CPCs |
| 2026 TRB Targeti | 11 CPCs |
| 2026 TRB Staffingi | 64% |
| CRWG Targeti | 16 CPCs |
|
Number of Trainees
Click to view breakdown
|
6 trainees |
| ↳ Academy Graduates | 2 |
| ↳ Developmental 3 | 4 |
| Current CRWG Staffingi | 44% |
|
Projected CRWG Staffingi
Click to view components
|
63% |
| ↳ Est. Trainee Certifications | + 3.7 |
| ↳ Projected Retirements/Losses | - 0.7 |
| Training Information, April 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Training Time (Avg)i | 1.67 years |
| ↳ New Hires | 1.77 years |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 0.61 years |
| Training Success Rate (Avg)i | 62% |
| ↳ New Hires | 60% |
| ↳ Transfers (CPC-IT) | 91% |
| Travel Days from Academyi | 4 days |
Historical Trends
HLN Staffing Percentages
HLN Personnel Counts
HLN Training Metrics
Traffic
| April 2025 - March 2026 (12 Months) | |
|---|---|
| Tower Operations | 48,671 operations/year |
| TRACON Operations | 26,699 operations/year |
| Total Operations | 75,370 operations/year |
| Average Daily Operations | 206 operations/day |
Traffic History
NCEPT
| Current NCEPT Metrics | |
|---|---|
| Possible Lossesi Apr 2026 |
0 |
| Expected Staffing (12-Month)i Apr 2026 |
55.4% |
| Possible Gains to National Avgi Apr 2026 |
6 |
| Priority / Draft Orderi Mar 2026 |
#73 |
| Inbound ERRs on Filei Feb 2026 |
0 |
| Employees with Outbound ERRsi Feb 2026 |
0 (0%) |
NCEPT is the centralized system for managing controller-requested transfers between facilities. Transfer requests are only approved based upon a set of complex metrics that attempt to balance the distribution of the workforce.
Demand Trends
NCEPT Priority
Administration
| Organizational Structure | |
|---|---|
| Service Area | Western |
| District | Salt Lake |
| HR Region | Northwest Mountain |