ATC
FAA Regrouping on Remote Towers
As Europe and other parts of the world expand their use of remote-tower technologies, the FAA is pulling back and halting such projects at two airports.
Heathrow remote tower
A developmental digital room in Heathrow’s traditional tower works in shadow mode and is winning the hearts and minds of controllers. (Photo: Heathrow)

Remote tower technology is reaching maturity and going operational in Europe, Asia, and Canada. But in the U.S., one of two such projects is being shut down by the FAA and the other has received a stop-work order.

European suppliers and one in Canada have dozens of remote and digital tower projects under development or in operation at airports of various sizes in Europe and Asia. Even projects at large airports are moving ahead, including experimentation at London Heathrow (EGLL) in shadow mode with nearly 475,000 movements per year.