The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has expressed strong support for a bipartisan bill that aims to equip all federal contract towers with Airborne Position Reference Tools (APRTs) using ADS-B technology. The legislation would address a critical safety gap in the United States’ air traffic control system by providing modern situational awareness tools to towers currently operating without surveillance equipment.
The bill, introduced by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), authorizes the installation of APRTs at FAA contract towers lacking this vital technology. APRTs utilize ADS-B data to display real-time aircraft positions, enhancing the controllers’ ability to monitor traffic effectively. This development is expected to improve response times and reduce the risk of runway incursions at airports nationwide.
The Federal Contract Tower program currently oversees 265 third-party operated towers among the 527 towered airports in the United States. Over 90 of these contract towers do not possess modern situational tools and depend primarily on visual observation and radio communication. This deficiency creates challenges in managing increasing air traffic complexities and congestion. Sen. Sheehy highlighted, “Far too many controllers do not have access to critical, 21st century technology,” underscoring the urgency of the bill.
AOPA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, Jim Coon, emphasized the national importance of federal contract towers and the benefits that APRT installation would bring. “This legislation closes a longstanding gap and will enhance safety for pilots across the country,” he said. The bill has garnered widespread support from aviation industry stakeholders including the National Business Aviation Association, Airlines for America, the Regional Airline Association, Horizon Air, and the U.S. Contract Tower Association.
The APRT system with FAA approval is exemplified by uAvionix’s FlightLine, a cloud-based platform that delivers precise ground and airborne tracking. FlightLine’s use of ADS-B data provides situational awareness without the traditional drawbacks of radar, such as high costs and prolonged deployment schedules. Industry experts view ADS-B as a cost-effective tool that aligns with advancing safety and efficiency in airspace management.
In addition to technology deployment, the bill has prompted discussion on privacy and appropriate use of ADS-B signals. Sen. Sheehy, himself a general aviation pilot, has also advocated for the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act to ensure ADS-B data is utilized solely for safety purposes, preventing misuse by airports or third parties. Jim Coon expressed hope that Congress can advance both bills to enhance aviation safety comprehensively.
Key points of the bill include:
1. Authorizing APRT installation at all federal contract towers currently without surveillance tools.
2. Enhancing controllers’ ability to obtain reliable real-time aircraft location data.
3. Reducing reliance on visual observation and radio calls alone at busy airports.
4. Leveraging cost-efficient, cloud-based ADS-B technology for improved air traffic management.
5. Promoting legislative measures to protect pilot privacy related to ADS-B usage.
This legislative effort reflects a proactive approach to modernizing the National Airspace System and supporting controllers working in increasingly complex environments. The integration of APRTs with ADS-B technology will contribute significantly to maintaining the safety and efficiency of American airspace, benefiting pilots, controllers, and the traveling public alike.