Plans revealed for largest roll-out of remotely operated air traffic control towers

The world’s largest roll-out out of remotely operated air traffic control towers has been revealed by Norwegian airport operator Avinor in a plan to provide safe and efficient future operations.

On Monday 28 September 2015, CEOs of Avinor, Kongsberg Gruppen and Indra Navia came together to present their plans for remote-operated air traffic control towers across a number of Norwegian airports. The presentation follows an announcement made in August 2015 by Kongsberg Gruppen and Avinor Air Navigation on the signing of a NOK 400 million contract for the supply of a number of remotely controlled air traffic control towers. Kongsberg and Indra Navia will deliver a complete solution for remote controlled tower services for several airports from one control centre.

Dag Falk-Petersen, CEO of Avinor, said: “Remote towers are an important focus area that offers great possibilities both for the Avinor Group and the Norwegian aviation industry. The technology allows for safe and efficient operation of Norwegian airports, and will help us to maintain the extensive aviation services we have in Norway.”

“Remote towers are an important focus area that offers great possibilities both for the Avinor Group and the Norwegian aviation industry”

Avinor had previously decided to invest in remote tower services at up to 15 airports from a control tower centre in Bodø. Further expansion is expected to include more of Avinor’s airports.

According to Avinor, the remotely operated air traffic control towers enable one person to handle several airports simultaneously avoiding substantial investment in towers and equipment at each individual airport. In addition, maintenance costs at each airport are also expected to be significantly lower. The cost of air traffic control tower services is expected to decrease by 30-40 percent in total. Lower costs at airports mean lower fees for airlines, helping to maintain the current extensive route network in Norway.

Walter Qvam, CEO of Kongsberg Gruppen, said: “We have used expertise from several areas of the Group to produce a unique sensor technology composed of newly developed and existing components that provide optical resolution at 360 degrees. It is a seamless image where many of today’s challenges in re-creating such a large field of view have been solved using only one camera. The system also has additional features such as night capability using an infrared sensor. This tower solution will have significant international potential.”

Eldar Hauge, CEO of Indra Navia Norway, added: “Indra Navia has years of experience in delivering solutions to international Air Traffic Management (ATM), including solutions for tower services for the world’s largest airports and leading ATM service providers. Being part of this unique delivery and collaboration constellation helps to ensure our position as a leading provider of ATM solutions, while also safeguarding jobs and our expertise in Norway. We are both pleased and proud.”