Airservices Australia will trial remotely operated air traffic control tower technology later this year after signing an agreement with Saab and Swedish airways provider Luftfartsverket (LFV) at the ATC Global conference.
The technology was developed by Saab with LFV as an operational partner and launched in 2009, and allows air traffic at one or more remote small or medium-sized airports to be managed and controlled remotely from a single, larger air traffic services centre.
“This new trial will allow us to examine the possible application of remote tower technology in the Australian environment,” said Airservices CEO Greg Russell. “In particular, whether the system has the potential to assist us meet demand for services in areas including the remote northwest of the country.
Airservices says that the trial will not have an impact upon existing ATC arrangements, while any decision on the roll-out of the technology in Australia would require thorough industry consultation, a rigorous safety review, and regulatory approval from CASA.
