LEESBURG, Va. — Leesburg Executive Airport has rolled out a new situational awareness system in its control tower, giving air traffic controllers a live view of aircraft positions as they move through the airport’s busy airspace.
The new system, called the uAvionix FlightLine Airborne Position Reference Tool, marks a significant safety upgrade for the town-owned airport. Until now, controllers have relied mainly on what they could see from the tower and what pilots reported over the radio. With the new display, they can now track aircraft in real time on a screen inside the tower.
For an airport as active as Leesburg, that matters.
Leesburg Executive Airport logged more than 100,000 takeoffs and landings last year, making it one of the busiest airports in Virginia. The airport’s control tower operates through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Contract Tower Program, which includes more than 265 towers across the country. The tower is operated by Midwest ATC and is currently working out of a temporary facility while the Town of Leesburg plans for a permanent tower.
Airport leaders said the technology helps close a gap that has existed for years at contract towers like Leesburg’s, especially compared with larger airports that already have radar support.
“Many airports in Virginia with FAA towers already have radar in place, so providing our controllers with modern situational awareness tools is a top priority for the Airport Commission,” stated Travis Gunnells, chairman of the Leesburg Airport Commission. “We are proud to be among the first contract towers in the nation to deploy it.”
The system comes from uAvionix, a company with its East Coast headquarters in Leesburg, adding a local connection to the project.
Airport Director Scott Coffman said the investment is about keeping pace with the demands of a growing airport while improving safety for pilots and controllers alike.
“This newly-approved technology is an important tool for air traffic controllers safely managing the busy airspace,” stated Airport Director Scott Coffman. “This investment demonstrates Leesburg’s commitment to airport infrastructure and safety as we move towards construction of a permanent tower.”
For Loudoun, the move is another sign that Leesburg Executive Airport is continuing to modernize as traffic stays high and pressure grows for long-term infrastructure improvements. With a permanent tower still ahead, airport officials are making the case that better tools now can help support safer operations in the meantime.
