Enhancing Air Traffic Control with Automation

Air traffic controllers in TRACON facilities rely on STARS to manage aircraft spacing and sequencing. The system improves safety and efficiency for both civilian airports and U.S. military terminal areas. Moreover, STARS represents a major step in industrial automation, integrating advanced control systems similar to PLC and DCS technologies used in factory automation.

Replacing Legacy Systems with Modern Control Solutions

STARS development began in 2000 to unify multiple outdated systems into one flexible platform. Collins Aerospace collaborated with the FAA to implement this solution as part of the NextGen modernization plan for the National Airspace System. Therefore, controllers gained tools to verify headings, vectors, spacing, and conflict alerts. In addition, the system provides weather advisories, increasing operational stability and reducing costs. This mirrors trends in industrial automation where modern PLC and DCS platforms replace fragmented legacy control systems.

Securing Airspace through Advanced Automation

STARS integrates radar data and flight information into high‑resolution displays. As a result, controllers can manage more traffic with improved situational awareness. The system processes weather reports and sensor data, offering six levels of weather visualization. Different colors highlight conditions, enabling controllers to guide aircraft safely around storms. In addition, STARS allows operators to save workstation preferences, simplifying infrastructure maintenance. This approach reflects factory automation practices where user‑friendly control systems enhance productivity and reduce downtime.

Future Expansion and National Integration

Collins Aerospace and the FAA have deployed STARS at 11 major TRACON facilities, covering 80 percent of U.S. air traffic. Locations include New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, California, St. Louis, Louisville, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. In alignment with the FAA’s NextGen initiative, the STARS program aims to establish a single national software and hardware baseline. This strategy parallels industrial automation trends where unified control platforms improve scalability and reliability across multiple sites.

Author’s Insights on Industry Trends

STARS demonstrates how industrial automation principles extend beyond factory floors into air traffic management. The integration of advanced control systems, real‑time data visualization, and simplified infrastructure reflects broader automation trends. In my view, the success of STARS highlights the importance of investing in flexible, scalable platforms. Companies in manufacturing and process industries can learn from aviation’s adoption of unified control systems, applying similar strategies to enhance efficiency and safety.

Application Scenarios

• Air Traffic Management: Safe sequencing of aircraft in TRACON facilities.

• Industrial Automation: Replacement of legacy PLC and DCS systems with unified platforms.

• Factory Automation: Real‑time monitoring and visualization for improved decision‑making.

• Defense Applications: Reliable integration of automation systems in military airspace control.