A coalition of airports, air traffic controllers, technology providers and government partners has launched a drive to bring remote and digital air traffic control towers into widespread use across the United States.
The newly established Digital Tower Technology Coalition argues that the systems, which replace traditional out-the-window views with high-resolution camera arrays, infrared sensors and panoramic digital displays, could deliver transformative gains in safety, efficiency and accessibility. Proponents say the approach allows a single control center to oversee multiple airports, potentially solving chronic staffing shortfalls while slashing infrastructure expenses for smaller facilities.
Richard Kennington, spokesperson for the group and principal at Rinaldi Consultants, called the technology potentially one of the most important advances to the National Airspace System since automation. It offers reliable service to communities of every size while supporting sustainable growth, he said.
Europe has moved ahead decisively. Sweden commissioned the first operational remote tower center in 2015, followed by similar facilities in Norway and Finland. Avinor's center can oversee as many as 15 airports at once. In 2021 London City Airport became the first busy international hub to rely fully on a remote digital tower, with controllers operating from Swanwick using Saab's solution.
U.S. efforts date to 2007 testing at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City but have been plagued by delays. Non-federal projects at Leesburg Executive and Northern Colorado Regional airports advanced with private and state support only for vendors Saab and Searidge to withdraw after encountering regulatory obstacles, leading to termination of the Leesburg effort in 2023. One airport recently exited its remote tower initiative to pursue conventional construction.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the agency to publish system design approval processes, testing milestones, safety analyses and a comprehensive research plan within 180 days, while expanding evaluations beyond Atlantic City to at least three additional sites. As of early 2026 those mandates have seen only partial fulfillment. The FAA states that no remote tower systems are approved for National Airspace System use, although an RTX-Frequentis partnership system continues testing at the Technical Center with possible design approval anticipated later in 2026. A recent federal solicitation seeks support for remote tower planning and deployment.
Hybrid and virtual ramp control systems have seen limited adoption at airports including Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental, Kansas City International and Orlando. A Frequentis installation at Bartow Executive is progressing toward operational status. Airports such as Johnston Regional in North Carolina have expressed interest in becoming early adopters, citing the potential to deliver tower services at roughly half the cost of traditional builds and to cover several nearby fields from one center.
The DTTC, aligned with the Modern Skies Coalition's broader push to replace legacy copper wiring, paper strips and outdated equipment, will focus on defining technical standards, studying multi-airport strategies, developing enhanced detection capabilities and supporting the ATC workforce. Advocates emphasize that the technology could extend professional air traffic services to hundreds of currently nontowered rural and community airports while easing pressure on an overstretched controller workforce.
With the FAA promoting its vision of a modernized system that includes remote towers, the coalition's advocacy could help determine whether the United States finally catches up to global leaders in this field.