Amid FAA Shutdown Strains, Contract Towers Like Kissimmee Keep America’s Air Traffic Moving

Contract towers are air traffic control towers that are staffed by employees of private companies rather than by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees. The FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program was established in 1982 to allow the agency to contract out the operation of certain towers. Contract Towers represent over half of all the Federal air traffic control towers in the United States and are supported by substantial funding from Congress. During the previous Fiscal Year, legislation was passed ensuring the contract towers in the National Airspace System were funded by the FAA through the current Fiscal Year. This process was established just after the previous government shutdown to ensure the solidity of the contract program for years to come. The Kissimmee Tower is operated by employees of RVA Inc, one of the handful of companies awarded an air traffic control contract by the Department of Transportation, funded through the FAA. 

Though Kissimmee and other contract tower staff continue to receive pay for their work unlike their Federal employee counterparts, the operational tempo and volume has increased at many of the contract facilities during the government shutdown. With the reduction in airspace and service caused by the staffing issues at FAA facilities, and the reduction in commercial flights due to these restrictions, many General Aviation users have focused on utilization of the smaller airports in the nation to continue flight training and Air Taxi services. This increase is evident in the totals we tabulate daily here at Kissimmee and the analysis of previous years’ operational totals. Though the service level has decreased at the larger airports across the nation, the staff at Kissimmee and other contract facilities across the nation continue to provide service to users to the extent possible. Their dedication to service and passion for the career continues to add cohesion to the National Airspace System.

City of Kissimmee Supports Local Businesses Through the Business Boost 2.0 (BB2) Program

The City of Kissimmee is celebrating its local small business community as officials award grant checks through the Business Boost 2.0 (BB2) program. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, the initiative helps businesses recover from financial setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue providing essential services to residents. A new video highlights how these relief grants are already making a difference for local entrepreneurs, including Kissimmee Gateway Airport tenant MaxFlight Helicopters. 

Program Impact (as of November 2025)

• 21 businesses have received a combined $255,000 in grants.
• 12 additional businesses have been approved for $150,000, soon to be distributed.
• 188 applications have been submitted by Kissimmee businesses seeking support.

The BB2 program offers direct grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on business size. These funds help cover operating expenses, retain employees, and strengthen the small business community that keeps Kissimmee thriving.

Mayor Jackie Espinosa emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Small businesses are the backbone of our community. By supporting them through Business Boost 2.0, we’re helping them thrive, retain jobs, and continue serving our residents.”

Eligible Kissimmee-based small businesses must demonstrate financial hardship between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2024. Applicants must also have been established before March 11, 2021, and hold an active Kissimmee Business Tax Receipt.

For more information or to check the status of an application, contact the Economic Development Department at economicdevelopment@kissimmee.gov or 407-518-2556.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Students Visit Kissimmee Gateway Airport for a Job Shadow Day

Students from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University were welcomed at Kissimmee Gateway Airport for Eagle Job Shadow Day on November 15. The students had the opportunity to visit the air traffic control tower, Sunstate Aviation, Aerostar Training Services, and tour the airfield. The students also saw a demonstration of the usage of pyrotechnics and other wildlife mitigation techniques, as well as other duties of an Operations Coordinator. Wishing all of these outstanding students the best on their journey toward careers in Aviation!

Enterprise Relocates at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Partners with MaxFlight for Car-Rental Sublease

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has moved its car-rental operation at Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) to a new location, the opposite side of the field, under a sublease arrangement with MaxFlight Helicopters. The updated rental counter and customer pickup point now share space at the same address used by MaxFlight, at 4010 4th Street, Kissimmee, FL 34741

Enterprise’s Kissimmee location is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM; after-hours returns remain available via key drop-box, though pickup service is only during business hours.

MaxFlight, known locally for its helicopter tours, charters, and flight training, continues its full aviation services from the same hangar, making the shared facility a convenient hub for both air and ground transportation.

For renters heading to or from Kissimmee Gateway Airport, the relocation may affect where you pick up your vehicle, so checking the updated address and rental hours before your trip is advised. For more details or to book a car, visit Enterprise’s Kissimmee page.

Clear Skies and New Heights: New Development Projects to Enhance Airport Facilities Underway

Following the recent completion of an $11.5 million reconstruction of Taxiway Delta, Kissimmee Gateway Airport is advancing several major infrastructure and aviation-related projects, including the design of a $1.2 million FAA- and FDOT-funded reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha, which parallels Runway 15/33 and improves safety and efficiency. 

The new $18 million air traffic control tower design is under review through the City of Kissimmee’s Design Review Committee, with construction to be funded by aviation fuel excise tax–supported FAA and FDOT grants and airport-generated matching funds, requiring no city tax dollars.

For details on these updates and other developments, check out this article from the Osceola News-Gazette.

Kissimmee City Commission Approves a Memorandum of Understanding for Master Airport Developer

Kissimmee city officials have taken a major step toward redeveloping the remaining property at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kissimmee Airport Development Company LLC (KADC). The agreement launches a 90-day due diligence period as the city prepares a broader development plan following the recent filing of construction plans for a new Hyatt Studios hotel on airport grounds.

KADC CEO Hector Lizasuain said the company has been in talks with the city for several years, but could not move forward until the Federal Aviation Administration approved the airport’s updated master plan. That plan outlines potential additions including a U.S. Customs & Border Patrol outpost, a vertiport, and significant new hangar space. Airport Director Shaun Germolus said KADC brings the local knowledge, construction background, and resources necessary to carry the project through.

One of the largest redevelopment opportunities lies on the site of the city’s long-closed golf course, where the master plan calls for a mix of 30,000- and 15,000-square-foot hangars totaling 330,000 square feet. A key challenge will be determining whether an existing pond can be relocated to accommodate future aviation uses.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates on this game-changing development!

Happy Thanksgiving from

Kissimmee Gateway Airport!

Thanksgiving offers a special moment to pause and reflect on all that we value and hold dear. We hope your holiday is filled with time spent among loved ones, savory dishes, and memories that linger long after the day is done. To everyone taking to the skies, we wish you safe travels and a pleasant, carefree journey. Thank you for your ongoing trust and support. From all of us at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving brimming with warmth, joy, and gratitude!

Relocate Your Business to Kissimmee Gateway

Central Florida's Airport of Choice

With over 180 acres of land available for development, a new aerospace park and innovative incentive packages, Kissimmee Gateway Airport is Central Florida's airport of choice and the ideal location for your business. For more information, contact the City of Kissimmee Economic Development Office at (407) 518-2307.

This newsletter is a publication of Kissimmee Gateway Airport. For more information about this publication, please contact us at newsletter@flykissimmee.com or call (407) 847-4600.



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