Air Force Materiel Command is seeking information on capabilities that would allow air traffic controllers to work remotely. In a request for information issued Wednesday, AFMC said it wants industry help in the analysis of potential alternatives that “would provide a remote Air Traffic Control tower capability as a potential replacement for standard ‘brick and mortar’ towers.” The system would include a sensor suite with enhanced optical, infrared, motion, sound detection, and tracking capabilities that is connected to a separate, but secure and geographically close, ATC operations center. The request notes a smaller system could be forward deployed for military or natural disaster contingencies. Responses to the RFI are due by Sept. 30.
Internationally known and respected Army Gen. Colin Powell died Oct. 18 at age 84 of complications from COVID-19. Powell served a 35-year Army career capped by duties as National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush. He…