Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
State officials report progress on digital-tower testing and a concept for a regional control center
Loading...
Summary
Division staff updated the board on batch testing for the digital (remote) tower system, vendor progress and documentation needs; they also described a developing concept for a regional digital tower center to consolidate remote tower services for the Western Slope.
Division staff told the Colorado Aeronautical Board that digital-tower system vendors (identified in discussion as RTX/Raytheon/Collins and frequentist partners) have completed initial batch testing and are proceeding through additional software releases. Bill (division staff) said FAA technical operations has expanded documentary review and that requirements creep is making documentation updates more iterative; releases referenced in the discussion ranged from release 4 to release 6 as vendors adjust the system and documentation.
Board members and staff also discussed a concept to centralize remote-tower services into a regional digital tower center that could remotely provide air traffic services for several Western Slope airports. Staff said the idea has gained traction with local airports (Hayden, Durango, Gunnison, Telluride) and that a separate working group is meeting to evaluate technical, staffing and siting considerations.
Why this matters
Remote or digital towers offer a way to provide air-traffic services to smaller or mountainous airports when staffing conventional towers is difficult; progress on certification, documentation and a regional center could change operational options for Western Slope airports and affect staffing and facility planning.
Provenance: Recorded remarks from Bill and later discussion with division leadership appear in the transcript excerpts below.
