RTX's Collins Aerospace launches Tower MicroELITE surveillance solution at San Bernardino International Airport

FAA design approval makes the system available for deployment at eligible contract towers and privately operated air traffic control facilities.

Rhea-AI Summary

RTX (NYSE: RTX) business Collins Aerospace has launched its Tower MicroELITE surveillance system, with San Bernardino Airport becoming its first deployment. The digital display system provides air traffic controllers with integrated surveillance data to support aircraft monitoring and sequencing.

Tower MicroELITE has received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool, making it available for deployment at eligible FAA Contract Tower airports and privately operated air traffic control facilities. It is built from Collins' FAA-certified Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System and uses commercial off-the-shelf hardware.

Positive

• Minor pointFAA System Design Approval enables Tower MicroELITE deployment at eligible contract towers and privately operated control facilities.
• Minor pointSan Bernardino Airport became the first to deploy Collins Aerospace's new Tower MicroELITE surveillance system.

Negative

• None.

Key Terms

airborne position reference tool, system design approval, commercial off-the-shelf, federal contract tower

4 terms

airborne position reference tool regulatory

"received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT)"

An airborne position reference tool is a device or system carried on an aircraft that provides accurate location and orientation information about the aircraft or a sensor mounted on it. It typically combines signals from sources such as GPS, inertial measurement units (IMUs), altimeters and timing inputs to produce a continuous reference position and attitude that other onboard systems (navigation, targeting, mapping or sensor-geolocation) use to relate measurements to the ground. Accuracy and availability depend on the sensors and inputs used; performance can degrade from GPS signal loss, sensor drift, magnetic interference or the need for periodic calibration.

system design approval regulatory

"received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool"

A formal authorization that a system’s design meets the applicable technical, safety, regulatory and/or functional requirements and may proceed to the next stage (such as construction, implementation, validation or operation). The approval is issued after review of design documents, specifications, test results and risk assessments by the responsible authority (which can be an internal compliance group, a third‑party certifier or a regulator); it typically limits changes until re‑approval and is required in regulated sectors before production, deployment or regulatory filing.

commercial off-the-shelf technical

"Utilizing commercial off-the-shelf hardware"

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) describes ready-made products—typically software or hardware—sold broadly to the general market and available for immediate purchase and use without custom development. COTS items are procured instead of being specially commissioned, which means buyers rely on the vendor’s standard features, support and licensing terms rather than bespoke specifications; they are distinct from custom-built or government-unique systems and are chosen when existing, mass-produced solutions meet requirements.

federal contract tower regulatory

"As a federal contract tower, SBD represents a growing segment"

An air traffic control tower whose operations and staffing are provided by a private company under a federal contract—most commonly the FAA’s Contract Tower Program—rather than by direct federal employees. The contractor supplies controllers, equipment support and day-to-day management while the federal agency retains regulatory oversight, requires adherence to federal procedures and standards, and pays for the contracted services under the terms of the agreement.

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Advanced display technology enables controllers to manage rising traffic demands

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has announced the launch of its Tower MicroELITE (TME) surveillance solution, a secure, scalable digital display system that enhances air traffic controller situational awareness. San Bernardino Airport (SBD) became the first to deploy the new solution, providing the integrated surveillance data tracking needed to accommodate a rapid increase in airspace operations.

As a federal contract tower, SBD represents a growing segment of private and contract airports that continue to see rising traffic levels without the benefit of certified radar displays, underscoring the need for modern, reliable surveillance solutions.

"As air traffic continues to grow, airports need solutions that give controllers a clear and reliable view of what's happening in their airspace," said Nicole White, vice president and general manager of Connected Aviation at Collins Aerospace. "Tower MicroELITE delivers that clarity with an FAA-approved solution that's easy to integrate and scalable so operators can manage traffic demands with confidence."

The TME solution is architected from Collins' FAA-certified Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), providing controllers a familiar, industry-standard interface to monitor and manage complex aircraft sequencing. Utilizing commercial off-the-shelf hardware, the TME system can be deployed at airports of any size – including regional and general aviation reliever airports, business aviation terminals and heliports – providing towers a compact, efficient and affordable enterprise-grade situational awareness tool.

TME has received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT), making the system available for deployment at eligible FAA Contract Tower airports and privately operated air traffic control facilities. The solution advances Collins' broader vision for airspace modernization by connecting controllers with timely surveillance data and proven automation tools to help them manage increasingly complex operating environments.

About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, provides advanced aerospace and defense solutions across avionics, aircraft interiors, aerostructures and engine components, mission systems, and power and control systems. Our global employees are dedicated to delivering innovative technologies to enhance aircraft performance, passenger comfort, operational safety and reliability.

About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.    

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact corporatepr@rtx.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rtxs-collins-aerospace-launches-tower-microelite-surveillance-solution-at-san-bernardino-international-airport-302908678.html

SOURCE RTX

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Where was RTX's Tower MicroELITE surveillance system first deployed?

San Bernardino Airport was the first to deploy Collins Aerospace's Tower MicroELITE system. The deployment provides integrated surveillance data tracking to support the airport as airspace operations increase.

What FAA approval has RTX's Tower MicroELITE received?

Tower MicroELITE has received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool. This makes it available for deployment at eligible FAA Contract Tower airports and privately operated air traffic control facilities.