Today, the House passed H.R. 3055, a package of five appropriations bills that includes an amendment offered by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) in support of the remote tower pilot program located in Leesburg, Virginia.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) remote tower pilot program, the first of its kind, is based out of the Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Initiated out of a justified need for air traffic control capabilities, the Leesburg Executive Airport handles more than 100,000 operations annually and is located in complex airspace, just miles away from Dulles International Airport.
“The FAA’s remote tower program is a smart investment in an innovative program that’s important to smaller airports like ours in Leesburg,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “This is a highly valuable program that will help ensure safer and more efficient airport operations for the hundreds of Virginians who use the Leesburg airport every day. These funds are vital if remote tower technology is to continue to advance and expand to municipal airports across the nation.”
The remote tower pilot program provides the FAA and airports with a cost effective alternative to address air traffic without having to construct and maintain a brick-and-mortar air traffic control tower. Remote tower technology employs high definition cameras and other sensors at airports to supply video and data in real time to a remote tower center, which can be located anywhere. From the remote tower center, air traffic controllers can monitor and manage aircraft in the air and on the ground.
Leesburg
210 Wirt St. SW, Unit 102,
Leesburg, VA 20175
Phone: (703) 236-1300 Manassas
9408 Grant Ave., Unit 403,
Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 234-3800
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