FAA launches first digital air traffic control towers in Florida and Alaska

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the first digital air traffic control towers in the United States are now operational. This technology has been introduced at smaller airports in Florida and Alaska as part of the Trump administration's efforts to modernise the nation's ageing aviation infrastructure.

These systems are currently active at the Bartow executive airport (KBOW) in Florida and the Kenai municipal airport (PAEN) in Alaska. Five more regional airports are scheduled to receive this technology next. According to the agency, the digital towers utilise sophisticated camera systems and digital displays to offer controllers a constant, 360-degree perspective of airport operations, covering runways, taxiways and the surrounding airspace.

The FAA stated that this technology is not intended to replace human controllers. Rather, the systems are meant to provide improved visibility and extra data to assist controllers in their current roles. “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,” said the FAA’s administrator, Bryan Bedford, in a statement. “Digital towers provide controllers with greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions,” he added.

Bedford is set to appear before the House transportation and infrastructure committee next week to address questions regarding the progress and challenges of the administration’s $12.5bn modernisation initiative. This project seeks to replace decades-old equipment still in use throughout the aviation system, such as copper telecommunications lines, floppy disks and paper strips for aircraft tracking. In June 2025, Congress approved $12.5bn over five years to support air traffic control reforms, though the Trump administration is now requesting an additional $30bn from the legislative branch for further improvements.

Concerns regarding the technology used in air traffic control have grown alongside wider unease about artificial intelligence. In September, the FAA introduced a new AI software tool known as the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (Smart). Trump has faced significant criticism regarding his response to a national shortage of air traffic controllers following a government shutdown last year.

Staffing levels in control towers and other aspects of US air traffic safety systems have faced intense scrutiny since a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington DC in 2025. The crash, which killed 67 people, was the deadliest in the US for over 20 years and was later deemed “100% preventable” by authorities.