WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking industry feedback on requirements for the next phase of its tower simulation system program, an effort to expand and modernize air traffic controller training simulators across the National Airspace System (NAS).
Under the initiative, known as Tower Simulation System Enhancement 2, or TSS E2, the FAA plans to deploy 86 additional high-fidelity tower simulation systems to training sites throughout the NAS. The systems are intended to improve access to simulation-based training and help accelerate controller training and certification.
The FAA currently operates 111 tower simulation systems supporting training at 264 FAA-operated air traffic control towers. According to the agency, controllers at 173 towers lack on-site access to simulators and must travel to other locations for simulation training, increasing costs and exacerbating staffing challenges.
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The TSS E2 effort also supports the FAA’s broader workforce expansion objectives by addressing current and anticipated controller staffing shortages. The program aligns with a mandate in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requiring the agency to expand access to high-fidelity simulation training across the NAS by May 2028.
New capabilities needed
According to the Statement of Objectives (SOO), the enhanced system must support high-fidelity simulation for any FAA-operated tower and introduce new capabilities through technological innovation. These include realistic virtual pilots capable of speech recognition and synthetic voice response, automated and objective student performance evaluation, remote instructor participation, and real-time access to simulator usage data.
The FAA is also seeking a centralized digital repository for visual databases and training scenarios that would allow users to upload and download data between simulators. The current TSS is not network-connected and relies on portable storage devices to transfer software and data between sites. Under TSS E2, the FAA is seeking secure network connectivity and the ability to perform remote software updates without disrupting training.
System architecture requirements emphasize open standards, modular and scalable software design, integration with existing and future FAA systems, and resilience to minimize downtime. The FAA is also seeking operating cost efficiencies, including reduced power consumption and thermal load to lower facility installation and operating costs.
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The agency plans to complete installation of all TSS E2 systems, visual databases, and training scenarios by May 2028. The current TSS software contract expires in May 2028, and the operational and maintenance support contract expires in September 2028.
The FAA is requesting industry comments on the Statement of Objectives to help refine the requirements before proceeding with a formal acquisition. Feedback must be submitted by 12 p.m. Eastern on 5 February 2026. The agency named Manish Patel as the primary point of contact for this RFI, and they can be reached via email at [email protected]
