Radar on the Radar for Smaller Airports

The FAA will procure new radar systems for some 15 low- to medium-activity airports that currently have no radar displays. These displays are part of the agency’s plan to provide interim tower displays in advance of the full national deployment of the Standard Terminal Automated Radar System (Stars). The displays will provide an “affordable and certifiable” tower radar that can be purchased by airports at their own expense. The FAA currently plans to install the systems at approximately 15 towers, each handling at least 30,000 operations annually.