Remote Towers: A Better Future for America’s Small Airports

Most small U.S. airports that have an air traffic control tower have a tower operated by a private company in a contract capacity. Contracts are administered and paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration, but small airports must qualify for a contract tower and there is currently a waiting list. In this report, remote towers are suggested as a possible alternative to traditional traffic control towers. A remote tower is a system where video cameras and communication gear transmit information to controllers who are housed in a control room in a ground-level building. This document discusses the benefits of remote towers including improved safety, cost savings, and better imagery. Examples from other countries of remote tower implementation are included. In addition, two U.S. pilot projects underway in Leesburg, Virginia and Loveland, Colorado are highlighted.

• Record URL:
  • https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/air_traffic_control_remote_towers-1.pdf
• 
• Authors:
  • Van Beek, Stephen D
• Publication Date: 2017-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 36p
• Serial:
  • Policy Brief
  • Issue Number: 143
  • Publisher: Reason Foundation
  • Serial URL: https://reason.org/policy_brief/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Airport control towers; Airports; Benefits; Data collection; Pilot studies; Remote sensing
• Geographic Terms: Leesburg (Virginia); Loveland (Colorado); United States
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01684363
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 26 2018 5:14PM