In light of the recent communication failure across the entire country, where it became apparent that much of the USA’s air traffic control system relies on floppy discs, the news, announced by the FAA on 06NOV26, that its first digital towers have now gone into operation at Bartow Executive Airport in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport in Alaska, has taken on a different dimension. These are the first air traffic control towers to be equipped with better technology (Frequentis system), and it seems a drop in the ocean, considering floppy discs should be phased out by 2028 (50 years after they were first launched as the latest in digital tech in 1978.) High time, therefore, that the US’ air traffic controllers are provided with more supportive technology – particularly given the extra pressure they are subjected too, as ATC staff numbers are also not where they should be. The technology that is being deployed in these new towers, is the result of years of FAA-conducted testing at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, among other locations, where it was assessed whether safety, accuracy and reliability requirements could be adequately met.
The FAA explains that “the nation’s first digital towers are operational at airports in Florida and Alaska. The new technology gives air traffic controllers better tools to do their jobs by providing greater visibility of airport activity to help them monitor traffic. Controllers are still managing the airspace but now have modern technology and facilities. Digital towers use advanced cameras and digital displays to provide controllers with a continuous, 360-degree view of runways, taxiways and surrounding airspace. The technology provides additional information to support the work controllers already do.” It goes on to reveal that “with funding from President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act, five more non-towered airports will soon get these systems: Winter Haven Regional Airport in Florida, Venice Municipal Airport in Florida, Montgomery County Airpark in Maryland, Johnston Regional Airport in North Carolina, and Durango-La Plata County Airport in Colorado.”
FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford, explained: “Our air traffic controllers continue to do the critical job of keeping aircraft safely separated, and we’re giving them better technology to do that. Digital towers provide controllers with greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions. It’s about putting better tools in the hands of our workforce so they can continue delivering the safe, reliable air traffic services the flying public depends on.”
