http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...tower1030.html
"... The new tower is designed to better accommodate the volume of air traffic that currently passes through the airport, as well as handle future growth.
Sky Harbor saw a record 41.2 million passengers in 2005 and is ranked among the busiest airports in the country.
Last year, it recorded more than 555,000 takeoffs and landings; that number is expected to grow to 670,000 by 2015. By then, the airport will serve an estimated 50 million passengers annually.
"The airport is a lot busier today and has a lot more structures than it used to," Deputy Aviation Director Deborah Ostreicher said. "We're so excited to have this open because it really will help us meet our needs now and in the future."
One advantage of the new tower is its height.
It stands 326 feet tall - 125 feet taller than the old tower to the west of it. That gives it an unobstructed view of the airport grounds."
The new tower is roughly the equivalent of a 30-story building and is the third-tallest of its kind in the world. Only those in Munich, Germany, and Atlanta soar higher.
