Hamad International Airport in Qatar Activates Certified Virtual Tower | Aviation International News

Hamad International Activates Virtual Tower in Qatar

Region’s first certified digital tower enhances controller awareness

By Amy Wilder • Writer

December 1, 2025

Searidge Technologies reported that the first large-scale digital tower system certified by aviation safety regulators in the Middle East has entered operational service at Hamad International Airport. The virtual tower (vTWR) supports the Western Taxiway and Stand Development Project, an ambitious expansion that has increased the complexity of airside operations in the western area of the airport.

According to Searidge, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) adopted a hybrid digital-tower model to address distance and line-of-sight constraints from HIA’s main air traffic control tower. The approach enabled controllers to maintain high levels of safety, surveillance, and efficiency without constructing a secondary tower.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Bizav Traffic Impacted by UK Air Traffic Control Failure

Thousands of commercial airline flights were canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday

FAA Installs Surface Radars at Key Airports and Awards $74.3M to AT&T

KDCA and KEWR receive SMR-4 installations, while IDIQ AT&T covers coms

Surface Movement Radar installation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Merlin’s Cessna Caravan in flight

Verti-Go Initiative to Lead European Airspace Update

Honeywell-led consortium to consider advanced air mobility integration

Vertical VX4 aircraft in flight

Wisk Tests 1:3 Supervisor Ratio for Autonomous Flight

NASA controllers used existing tools to manage simulated autonomous traffic

A controller monitors simulated traffic inside NASA’s air traffic control simulation laboratory at the agency’s Ames Research Center.

Modern Skies Coalition Urges $20B More for ATC Upgrades

Funds would build on $12.5 billion approved last year

Controllers work inside a control tower

FAA Taps L3Harris To Modernize Surveillance Network

Contract covers more than 700 ground stations nationwide

L3Harris will upgrade more than 700 FAA ground stations and operate the national aircraft tracking network through 2045 under a new contract.

FAA’s Wilbur To Improve Flight Delay Data Efficiencies

FAA completed an audit to strengthen NAS operations related to flight delays and cancellations

GAO cites hiring and training attrition and urges FAA to establish metrics, improve applicant status tools, and use collected data to guide changes.