FAA Activates Digital Air Traffic Towers at Two Airports
Digital towers at Bartow Executive Airport in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport in Alaska are now operational under the FAA's newly approved program.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Air Travel
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that digital air traffic control towers are operational at Bartow Executive Airport in Florida and Kenai Municipal Airport in Alaska. The installations are the first under the agency's newly approved digital tower program, which uses cameras and displays in place of a conventional tower cab.
Why it matters
Digital towers could offer a lower-cost alternative to conventional towers, potentially expanding access to air traffic control services at smaller airports across the country. The rollout marks a shift from the FAA's earlier remote tower experiment at Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia, which was discontinued in 2023.
The FAA has allocated $50 million under the Working Families Tax Cut Act for digital tower deployment, with five additional airports planned beyond the two now operational. The agency has not yet released a cost comparison against conventional towers, and the timeline for the remaining sites was not stated.
The players
Federal Aviation Administration
The federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing U.S. civil aviation, including air traffic control operations nationwide.
Frequentis
An Austrian company that develops communication and air traffic management systems, and whose smartVISION digital tower system received the FAA's first design approval.
The details
Digital towers use high-definition cameras, sensors and digital displays to give controllers a continuous 360-degree view of runways, taxiways and airspace. Some systems can also include infrared cameras, aircraft identification tags and microphones that reproduce airfield sounds inside the control room.
Timeline
2018: A camera-based remote tower began providing services at Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia.
June 2023: The FAA discontinued the Leesburg remote tower program after developer Saab withdrew from the approval process.
September 2026: The FAA issued its first system design approval to Frequentis for its smartVISION digital tower system, and Bartow began operating.
November 6, 2026: The FAA announced digital towers were operational at Bartow and Kenai.
Seasonal Patterns
The FAA's digital tower rollout follows the 2018 camera-based remote tower at Leesburg Executive Airport, which was discontinued in June 2023 after Saab withdrew from the approval process. The newly approved systems revisit that model with federal funding and a broader set of planned airport sites.
Travelers flying into Bartow or Kenai may encounter digital tower operations, though the FAA has not indicated any change to flight procedures for passengers. Those planning trips to the five additional airports slated for digital towers should check airport websites for service updates as installations are completed.
The takeaway
Digital towers offer a camera-based alternative to conventional control facilities, and their performance at Bartow and Kenai will shape whether the model expands to more small airports. Readers flying through smaller regional airports may see this technology appear in the years ahead.
Further reading
For broader context on how aviation infrastructure is changing, explore Air Travel coverage on Wisevoter.
