FAA Launches First-Ever Digital Air Traffic Control Towers in Florida and Alaska
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday, November 6, 2026, that the United States’ first operational digital air traffic control towers are now live at two general aviation airports: Bartow Executive Airport in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport in Alaska. The launch marks a historic step forward in modernizing U.S. aviation infrastructure.
Digital towers use high-definition cameras, sensors, and digital displays to give air traffic controllers a continuous 360-degree view of runways, taxiways, and surrounding airspace—without requiring a traditional physical tower. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the technology gives controllers “greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions.”
The FAA describes digital towers as a lower-cost alternative to conventional control towers that could expand access to air traffic control services at smaller and rural airports. Five additional airports are slated to receive digital tower systems:
- Winter Haven Regional Airport and Venice Municipal Airport in Florida
- Montgomery County Airpark in Maryland
- Johnston Regional Airport in North Carolina
- Durango-La Plata County Airport in Colorado
The expansion is funded by a $50 million allocation under the Working Families Tax Cut Act as part of the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative.
Source: AVweb – Digital Towers Operational at Two Airports