Building on the validation of remote tower operations to a single aerodrome, this solution refers to the provision of ATC services and AFIS to two low-density airports simultaneously by a single controller located at a remote location.

Validation results

An iterative validation programme, including simulationsand live trials, tested the provision of ATC services and AFIS in nomimal and non-nominal situations. In the live trial, AFIS were provided simultaneously to Røst airport and Vaerøy heliport from one remote controller position at the Bodø facility on the Norwegian mainland. The validation was constrained to two airfields of very low intensity where, should simultaneous movements occur, traffic at one could be safely held or delayed while traffic at the other was attended to.

The results were as follows:

• Positive feedback from controllers of the overall out-the-window (OTW) view, in terms of accuracy and the high quality resolution, screen size and contrast. The controllers noted that the OTW was even sharper than in a local tower;

• Improvement to the controllers’ situational awareness both in good and limited visibility conditions, thanks to infrared (IR) and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, which contributed to the clarity of the image feedback for the advanced visual features;

• Need for careful management of traffic to ensure safe service provision.

Status

The validation results for this solution are conclusive and sufficient to support a decision for industrialisation