The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted system design approval (SDA) to the Frequentis Digital Tower system, the first to reach this milestone for use in the US National Airspace System, Airports International reported.

Frequentis worked with RTX Corporation during the SDA process and closely with the FAA. The approval confirms the system has met all applicable FAA requirements for safety, human factors, and visual and system performance, the report said. It also sets an FAA-approved design baseline for future Digital Tower deployments.

Digital Towers use cameras, sensors and high-resolution displays to give controllers a full visual picture of an airport without requiring them to work from a conventional tower cab. Frequentis says the technology improves visibility and situational awareness, strengthens operational resilience and allows more flexibility in how air traffic services are delivered, including when conventional facilities are disrupted.

The company says the approval matters especially for smaller and regional airports, where the cost and complexity of building and maintaining a conventional tower can make tower services hard to achieve.

Dieter Eier, president of Frequentis USA, called the approval "a transformational moment" for US airports and communities. He said Digital Tower technology gives controllers better tools and makes modern air traffic services possible in places where they may not have been before. He added that airports now have a clearer path from concept to implementation.

Frequentis said Digital Tower technology is widely operational internationally. Until now, US airports considering it have faced uncertainty over design validation and regulatory acceptance. The company said the SDA gives airport sponsors more predictability when evaluating future investments.

Source: Airports International