Airport Control Tower On Hilton Head Island Gets State-Of-The-Art System The Hilton Head Island Airport (HDX) has completed installation of the uAvionix FlightLine Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT), a state-of-the-art situational-awareness system for the airport’s air traffic control tower. HXD’s tower was previously one of the 91 air traffic control towers in the country that operated without any surveillance tools to see airborne traffic, relying solely on visual observation and radio communications. This limitation increased controller workload and operational risk while reducing overall efficiency of air traffic operations. The ATC tower at Hilton Head is one of approximately 265 towers nationwide that are not owned or operated by the FAA. Owned by Beaufort County and operated by Robinson Aviation Inc. (RVA), HXD’s tower serves growing commercial, corporate, general aviation and military traffic, especially during spring and summer seasons.
