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

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, unveiled its Tower MicroELITE (TME) surveillance solution, a secure digital display system designed to improve air traffic controller situational awareness. San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) became the first to deploy the system, addressing the airport’s growing airspace operations without certified radar displays. The solution integrates surveillance data tracking to support increased traffic demands at contract towers, which often lack advanced radar systems.

Nicole White, vice president and general manager of Connected Aviation at Collins Aerospace, emphasized the need for reliable surveillance as air traffic rises. She stated that TME provides controllers with a clear, FAA-approved view of airspace operations, offering an easy-to-integrate and scalable solution for managing traffic demands. The system is built on Collins’ FAA-certified Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), ensuring familiarity and industry-standard functionality for controllers.

The TME solution utilizes commercial off-the-shelf hardware, enabling deployment at airports of any size, including regional, general aviation, business aviation terminals, and heliports. Its compact and efficient design provides enterprise-grade situational awareness at an affordable cost. The system has received FAA System Design Approval as an Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT), making it eligible for deployment at FAA Contract Tower airports and private air traffic control facilities.

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, develops advanced aerospace and defense solutions across multiple domains, including avionics and mission systems. RTX, with over 180,000 employees and 2025 sales exceeding $88 billion, focuses on advancing aviation, defense systems, and next-generation technology solutions to address critical global challenges.