Airborne Position Reference Tools (APRT)
August 15, 2025: APRT Displays Are Now Approved For Use In The NAS.
The FAA is not conducting an acquisition for APRTs. However, the agency has approved a number of APRTs for purchase and operation by airports.
Airborne Position Reference Tools (APRTs) are supplemental surveillance tools for increasing airborne situational awareness. They are intended for use in air traffic control towers that are staffed by non-federally employed controllers and not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS).
The FAA does not operate every Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) in the National Airspace System (NAS). Some towers are staffed by non-federally employed controllers, either via the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) program, or with non-federal funding. A number of these “non-FAA” towers do not have a Certified Tower Radar Display (i.e., STARS). Without radar data the controllers at those towers must rely on their own visual observations, and their radio communications with pilots. Many of these towers desire a tool that supplements situational awareness by providing controllers with a digital picture of their airspace.
APRTs may only be used to supplement controllers’ visual observations, and their radio communications with pilots. APRTs may not be used as the basis for maintaining separation between aircraft and they may not connect to FAA networks and/or FAA equipment.
The first step in procuring an APRT is to review the list of FAA-approved APRTs and contact your Non-Federal Program Implementation Manager (PIM).
If you have trouble accessing any of these materials please make sure you're using the Edge browser. If you need additional help, please contact Non-Federal-Program@faa.gov.
APRT Certificate of Compliance
You must submit the deliverables described below:
The APRT Intake Phase deliverables (See page 2 of APRT System Design Approval (SDA): An Overview) are as follows:
- A draft APRT Certificate of Compliance (See Reference Material section, above)
- A completed Non-federal APRT Project Intake Form (See Reference Material section, above)
- Compliance with FAA’s minimal functional and performance requirements (Listed in Appendix A of APRT System Design Approval (SDA): An Overview) via a traceability matrix or equivalent
-- Identify any deviations/waivers to the requirements (Subject to approval)
Please submit all deliverables to Non-Federal-Program@faa.gov for initial evaluation. If accepted, applicants will be prioritized based on system maturity, availability of requested deliverables, sponsor interest, and how well the applicant's solution address the end users' need.