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Saab, Avinor to trial remote air traffic service tower technology

7 June 2012


Swedish company Saab and Norway's air navigation service provider AVINOR have signed a deal to trial remote air traffic service tower technology in Norway.
During the 2012 trial, AVINOR's team at Bodø air traffic control centre (ATC) will remotely manage operations at a heliport at Værøy Airport using its remote tower (r-TWR) concept.
According to Saab, the remote tower technology will help manage and control air traffic at one or more remote airports from a bigger air traffic services centre located elsewhere.
Saab Sensis vice president and general manager Ken Kaminski said: "The r-TWR concept is designed to enable the safe, efficient operation of remote airports from a single air traffic control facility."
The new technology and operation will be certified under the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme.
In addition, Avinor is also planning to certify the operational concept for its Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS).
The r-TWR system, which is currently being trialled in Australia and going through certification process at two regions in Sweden, uses digital cameras and other sensors to offer an air traffic service facility with the required situational awareness to perform remote operations.
Saab Sensis' global air traffic management (ATM) business is operated within Saab's security and defence solutions business division.