(Washington D.C.) – Montana Republican United States Senator Tim Sheehy recently introduced the bipartisan Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act with Democrat Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to provide Air Traffic Controllers more tools and training to keep American airspace safe.
Many airports, particularly smaller and rural ones under the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) program, still lack modern situational awareness technology such as Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS) or other radar-integrated displays. Of the 266 Federal Contract Towers, more than 90 lack any surveillance tools. In towers at these airports, controllers rely on visual observation and radio calls, tools that can become strained during periods of high traffic, complex mixed operations, or reduced visibility. This technology gap can contribute to missed traffic conflicts or delayed recognition of emerging hazards.
Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines and Democrat Oregon Senator Ron Wyden joined Sheehy and Merkley in introducing the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act.
