FAA announces first US digital air traffic control towers in Florida and Alaska

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the first digital air traffic control towers in the United States are now operating, with the technology starting at smaller airports in Florida and Alaska.

The agency said the systems are live at Bartow executive airport in Florida and Kenai municipal airport in Alaska, and that five more regional airports are planned to get the setup. It described the towers as using advanced cameras and digital screens to give controllers a continuous 360-degree view of airport activity, such as runways, taxiways and nearby airspace.

The FAA said the digital systems are not meant to replace people. It said they are meant to give controllers more visibility and information while they continue their existing duties.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said controllers remain responsible for safely keeping aircraft separated and that the new technology is meant to help them do that work better. He said the systems give controllers more information to make difficult decisions.

Bedford is set to appear before the House transportation and infrastructure committee next week, as the administration’s $12.5bn effort to update ageing aviation infrastructure. Congress approved $12.5bn over five years in June 2025, while the Trump administration has asked for a further $30bn.

The push follows concerns about modernising air traffic systems, including the technology being used and the growing debate around artificial intelligence. In September, the FAA introduced an AI tool called the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, or Smart.

The issue of staffing has also drawn attention after a deadly midair crash between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington, DC, in 2025. The crash killed 67 people and was later described as “100% preventable”.

Source: The Guardian.