control tower

noun

1. a glass-enclosed, elevated structure for the visual observation and control of the air and ground traffic at an airport.

control tower

noun

1. a tower at an airport from which air traffic is controlled

Word History and Origins

Origin of control tower¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

"Nothing suspicious has been observed in the control tower's conversations with the flight crew," the preliminary report said.

From BBC

An arrow pointed them down a dirt road to a squat air traffic control tower next to a grass landing strip.

From Literature

Up in the carrier's flight control tower, Commander George Zintac, known as the Air Boss, is having to choreograph their movements - with a jet either launching or landing in just over a minute.

From BBC

The control tower repeated the aircraft was cleared to land and one of the pilots responded, “We are cleared to land but we are not going to make the runway” because of the engine failures.

From Seattle Times

Jean Sport Aviation Center, an airstrip visible from Interstate 15 that has no control tower, lies south of Las Vegas.

From Seattle Times