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Fact Sheet

Tower Simulation System (TSS)

The Tower Simulation System (TSS) provides interactive, highly-realistic training for Tower Air Traffic Controllers in a non-operational environment. The system includes a large, graphic depiction of the airfield and the area around the airport and can be adjusted to depict different weather conditions, as well as night and day. The screen showing the airfield wraps around the student’s position as the windows of an actual air traffic tower would do.

TSS at Academy

The simulator provides synthetic voice response and voice recognition to allow the student to talk to the simulator. The simulator’s synthetic voice acknowledges the student’s instructions. At the same time, the voice recognition system interprets the student’s commands and translates them into actual aircraft movement depicted on the screen of the airfield layout.

In operation, the system supports up to three simultaneous positions, including local, ground and flight data/clearance delivery. “Pseudo pilots” generate realistic scenarios at the direction of an instructor. The pseudo pilots view the airport and surrounding airspace so they may enter accurate and timely aircraft control instructions.

Under certain complex traffic scenarios, pseudo pilots respond directly to the student, overriding the voice response capability. A recorded playback feature allows instructors to review and evaluate performance with the student after the training sessions.

The system provides an unlimited number of different airport databases. For example, a simulator in Ontario can, within minutes, display and simulate operations at nearby satellite airports such as Bracket and Chino regional airports. When the system is used at a “hub” facility, each satellite facility within commuting distance of the hub has a database on file at the hub ready to use for training. This allows one simulator to train developmental controllers at many nearby airports.

Students using TSS at Academy

The system provides significant improvements to existing training operations. Training no longer depends on the density or complexity of actual air traffic operations. And the system eliminates the need for pre-emptive intervention on the part of an instructor to avoid a possible hazardous situation. The student “works through” the scenario to its eventual successful, marginal or unsuccessful outcome.

The simulator system does not interact with actual air traffic control operational systems and poses no threat to service interruption. The system creates an entirely new environment that operates away from, and independently of ongoing air traffic operations. It realistically replicates operations that enable training in an absolutely safe environment.

In addition to initial training, the simulator system provides for refresher training to heighten awareness of controllers from repeated exposure to seldom seen operations and airport conditions. Controllers who have recently been assigned to a new facility can also use the system to train in their new operational environment, reducing their training time.

The FAA has been using tower simulators for training in Chicago, Miami, Phoenix and Ontario, CA since 2006. In late December 2007, the FAA awarded a contract to Adacel Systems, Incorporated of Orlando, Florida to provide another 24 simulators. Adacel developed the FAA’s original four prototype systems.

The new simulators will be deployed at the following towers: Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy, Oakland, CA, Washington Reagan National, Dallas Fort-Worth, Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland, San Antonio, Memphis, Honolulu, Orlando, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Boston and Newport News VA. The FAA will install an additional six simulators at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.