Small or local airports are a life-line for a local economy, however they cannot always afford to operate a control tower around the clock. SESAR’s remote tower services offer the means to provide air traffic services in a cost-efficient way to such airports, as well as non-towered ones.
By installing sensors (mainly video cameras) around the airfield, the operator can monitor activity such as runway occupancy, weather, and visibility in real time. Data is relayed back to a remote control centre where a qualified operator is on hand to provide aerodrome flight information services (AFIS) or air traffic control services for arrivals and departures. With access to a range of visual, audio, and meteorological data, the remote facility can provide services which may not be available onsite around the clock.
In a series of real-time simulations and passive shadow-mode trials (i.e. the controllers participating in the validation ‘shadowing’ the instructions given by the operational controllers in the real tower), controllers used high resolution imagery and enhanced functionalities to provide advisory services to a remote location. As a result, safety was maintained in normal and degraded conditions and controllers welcomed the enhanced visual tools. The concept supports extended operational hours with lower overall staffing costs. It also supports development of regional economies.
The solution is available for industrialisation. Conclusive validation results prompted Sweden to build the world’s first remotely operated tower at Örnsköldsvik, controlled remotely from Sundsvall centre over 150 km away. The facility was fully certified by the Swedish Aviation Authority in 2014. The SESAR Solution is available for industrialisation and is implemented in the following airports: Are Ostersund, Budapest, Kiruna, Linkoping City, London City, Saarbrücken, Sundsvall-Timraa, and Umea .
SJU references: #71/Release 3
Benefits
- Increased cost efficiency
- Increased accessibility to and support for regional economies
Note on Security assessment
Please contact the SESAR JU ([email protected]), should you wish to obtain more information about this document
Datapack
Regulatory overview