Antenna tower · 2026
McDonald Observatory
Fort Davis, TX · near Marfa Muni (20.7 mi)
What this outcome means
The FAA studied the proposal and concluded it would not be a hazard to air navigation. A no-hazard determination is not permanent — it carries an expiration date, and if the structure is not built by then the case has to be re-filed.
The proposal, in the filer's words
"Development of a 150’ self-supporting radio communications tower to be located at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory located at 3640 Dark Sky Dr Fort Davis TX 79734 in Fort Davis County (30°40'18.53\ N 104° 1'15.50\" W). The tower is intended to support licensed/unlicensed microwave and other radio communications antenna systems and will serve as a radio communications site in planned network radio communications designs""
Filing details
- Case number (ASN)
- 2026-ASW-4807-OE
- Structure
- McDonald Observatory
- Type
- Tower / antenna
- Category
- Antenna tower
- Height above ground
- 150 ft
- Height above sea level
- 6,883 ft
- Site elevation
- 6,733 ft
- Notice of
- New Construction
- Duration
- Permanent
- Marking & lighting
- —
Timeline
- Filed
- April 2, 2026
- Determined
- May 14, 2026
- Determination expires
- November 14, 2027
A determination that lapses before the structure is built has to be re-filed. The FAA does not send a reminder.
Who filed it
- Sponsor
- Texas Department OF Public Safety
- Representative
- Texas Departmrnt OF Public Safety
Names are shown as they appear in the FAA's public record. How we handle names
Location
- Coordinates
- 30.671814, -104.020972
- Degrees / minutes / seconds
- 30°40'18.5"N 104°01'15.5"W
- County
- Jeff Davis
- Open in a map
- Google MapsOpenStreetMap
About this record
This page is a readable copy of a public record published by the FAA's Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis system. It is not the official record and may lag it. For the authoritative case status, search this ASN at the FAA's OE/AAA portal. If something here is wrong, email support@idea-engine.studio and we will correct it.
Source: FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) public archive (oeaaa.faa.gov), data as of September 12, 2026. Compiled by LOS Analyzer (Idea Engine LLC). This is not an official FAA record or an FAA determination; the FAA's portal is authoritative. LOS Analyzer is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA.
Screening a structure of your own?
Check Part 77 and the tower's line of sight before you file
LOS Analyzer screens a proposed structure against FAA Part 77 surfaces and the control tower's sightline to the runway, terrain-aware, in minutes. It is a preliminary screening — not an FAA determination and not a substitute for a licensed engineering review.