Digital technology will be installed at Cairns and Gold Coast towers as part of a wider roll-out of Airservices Australia's new Integrated Tower Automation Suite (INTAS) system.
INTAS has been in operation at Broome, Rockhampton, Adelaide and Melbourne, and is also to be installed in Perth and Brisbane.
The technology combines flight and operational data, surveillance and communications into a single integrated, tower-specific layout.
Airservices Executive General Manager Air Traffic Control, Greg Hood said that INTAS brought together operational information and systems currently provided by numerous computer screens and paper systems throughout each tower.
“By transitioning away from a manual, paper based system, controllers are able to concentrate more on the visual surveillance of the airport and aircraft, leading to increased situational awareness and enhanced safety,” Hood said.
“It also provides controllers with greater information about airport operations, which can be used to enhance airport efficiency and ensure we are well placed to meet the estimated 60 per cent increase in traffic over the next 15 years.”
INTAS will provide tower controllers with four touch screens displaying electronic flight strips, operational information, weather, terminal area radar displays, and, where available, surface surveillance data.