FAA Goes Digital: First Camera-Based ATC Towers Now Online in the U.S.
The Federal Aviation Administration has officially activated America’s first digital air traffic control towers, marking a major milestone in modernizing U.S. aviation infrastructure. The systems are now fully operational at Bartow Executive Airport (KBOW) in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport (PAEN) in Alaska.
Unlike traditional towers, these systems use high-definition cameras and 360-degree digital displays to give controllers a continuous view of runways, taxiways, and surrounding airspace—without requiring a physical window. At Bartow, controllers work at ground level in a modern operations center, monitoring 15 screens arranged in a wide arc. The screens are fed by cameras mounted on a 76-foot mast.
The digital replacement at Bartow cost $6.1 million, funded entirely by the Florida Department of Transportation—a fraction of the cost of constructing a conventional tower.
The FAA selected Frequentis, an Austrian air traffic management technology specialist, as the system’s sole approved supplier. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized that human controllers remain fully in charge:
“Digital towers provide controllers with greater visibility of airport activity and more information to make critical decisions.”
Five additional airports are next in line for the technology, funded through the Working Families Tax Cut Act:
- Winter Haven Regional Airport, Florida
- Venice Municipal Airport, Florida
- Montgomery County Airpark, Maryland
- Johnston Regional Airport, North Carolina
- Durango-La Plata County Airport, Colorado
Experts say the technology could be a game-changer for rural and community airports that currently operate without air traffic control tower services.
Source: General Aviation News – November 10, 2026