The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that the first digital air traffic control towers in the United States are now operational, bringing advanced camera and display technology to airports in Florida and Alaska as the Trump administration moves to upgrade the country's ageing aviation infrastructure.
The systems are online at the Bartow executive airport in Florida and the Kenai municipal airport in Alaska, with five additional regional airports slated to receive the technology next.
Digital towers use advanced camera systems and digital displays to give air traffic controllers a continuous 360-degree view of airport operations, including runways, taxiways and surrounding airspace. The FAA has said the technology is not intended to replace human controllers but to provide greater visibility and additional information to help them perform their duties.
“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 FAA 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 scheduled to appear before the House transportation and infrastructure committee next week, where he will face questions about the progress and challenges surrounding the administration’s ongoing $12.5bn modernisation initiative. Congress approved the funding over five years in June 2025 to support air traffic control reforms. The Trump administration is also seeking another $30bn from Congress to fund additional improvements.
Concerns about technology being implemented in air traffic control are gaining traction alongside increasing unease about artificial intelligence as a whole. In September, the FAA introduced a new AI software tool called the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories. Staffing levels at control towers have been under scrutiny since a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington DC in 2025 that killed 67 people. Authorities later deemed the crash “100% preventable”.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Digital towers represent a significant step in modernising US air traffic control, which still relies on decades-old equipment such as copper phone lines, floppy disks and paper strips.
- The technology could improve safety and efficiency at smaller airports that may lack full control towers, potentially reducing the risk of runway incursions and other incidents.
- How Congress responds to the administration’s request for an additional $30bn will shape the pace and scope of the national upgrade.
Background
US air traffic control infrastructure has been criticised for years as outdated and underfunded. The 2025 midair collision near Washington DC, which killed 67 people and was deemed fully preventable, intensified pressure on the FAA to modernise. The $12.5bn approved in 2025 was intended to kickstart reforms, but the Trump administration says more money is needed to complete the job.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- Bryan Bedford’s testimony before the House transportation committee next week, where lawmakers are likely to press on implementation timelines and costs.
- The fate of the administration’s request for an additional $30bn from Congress.
- The rollout of digital towers at the five next regional airports, which will test whether the technology can be scaled effectively.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe FAA announced that the first digital air traffic control towers in the US are operational.World news | The Guardian: “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the first digital air traffic control towers in the US are officially operational”
- SupportedThe systems are online at Bartow executive airport in Florida and Kenai municipal airport in Alaska.World news | The Guardian: “The systems are now online at the Bartow executive airport (KBOW) in Florida and the Kenai municipal airport (PAEN) in Alaska”
- SupportedDigital towers use cameras and displays to give controllers a continuous 360-degree view of airport operations, including runways, taxiways and surrounding airspace.World news | The Guardian: “The digital towers use advanced camera systems and digital displays to give air traffic controllers a continuous, 360-degree view of airport operations, including runways, taxiways and surrounding airspace”
- SupportedThe FAA says the technology is not intended to replace human controllers.World news | The Guardian: “The FAA maintains that the technology is not intended to replace human controllers.”
- SupportedFAA administrator Bryan Bedford said: “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,”World news | The Guardian: ““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”
- SupportedBedford said: “Digital towers provide controllers with greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions,”World news | The Guardian: ““Digital towers provide controllers with greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions,” he added.”
- SupportedBedford is scheduled to appear before the House transportation and infrastructure committee next week, where he will face questions about the initiative’s progress and challenges.World news | The Guardian: “Bedford is scheduled to appear before the House transportation and infrastructure committee next week, where he will face questions about the progress and challenges surrounding the administration’s ongoing $12.5bn modernization initiative.”
- SupportedCongress approved $12.5bn over five years in June 2025 to support air traffic control reforms.World news | The Guardian: “Congress approved $12.5bn over five years in June 2025 to support air traffic control reforms”
- SupportedThe Trump administration is seeking another $30bn from Congress for additional improvements.World news | The Guardian: “the Trump administration is seeking another $30bn from the legislative branch to fund additional improvements.”
- SupportedIn September, the FAA rolled out an AI software tool called the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories.World news | The Guardian: “In September, the FAA rolled out a new AI software tool called the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (Smart).”
- SupportedA midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington DC in 2025 killed 67 people.World news | The Guardian: “a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter on the outskirts of Washington DC in 2025 that killed 67 people.”
- SupportedAuthorities later deemed the crash “100% preventable”.World news | The Guardian: “the authorities later deemed it “100% preventable”.”
