Page 20 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

FEATURE REMOTE TOWERTE CONTROL TOWER
REMO
FEA
TURE

Forward Planning

A growing number of non-towered airports see potential business advantages in having a
control tower that can attract and handle more general and corporate aviation traffic
By Jay Menon

AS PLANS ARE MOVING APACE FOR Johan Landin, who is heading the Air Traffic
more and more airports worldwide, airport Management Sales & Marketing operations
authorities are grappling to handle the growth at Saab. Both Saab and Thales can install
in fleets and flights. The International Civil towers loaded with cameras and sensors
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) forecasts that covering 360 degrees overlooking runways
by 2030, the world will need another 40,000 to beam high-definition video and sound
air traffic controllers for air navigations to a distant control centre. One controller
services. A shortage of air traffic controllers can manage several airports remotely. The
may rein in expansion by the aviation industry technology is sensitive enough to penetrate
and economic development by emerging fog and detect stray animals on runways.
nations such as India, which wants to activate “Thales’s remote tower offering provides
hundreds of unused runways to spur growth. increased situational awareness through
A growing number of non-towered airports a combination of sensors and cameras,
see potential business advantages in having enabling remote air traffic management at
a control tower that can attract and handle a reduced cost, without an impact to safety
more general and corporate aviation traffic. or availability,” says Todd Donovan, Vice
This is where Stockholm-based Saab and President, Strategy & Marketing, Thales
Paris-based Thales are trying to capitalise Air Traffic Management. Thales is expected
The growing pressure to reduce with their remote tower systems. to announce a launch customer in the
operating costs for air traffic “When cost-effectiveness puts high near future. It also expects to win a 50/50
services while maintaining safety demands on airport operations, our Remote cost-share contract with the SESAR 2020
and efficiency, will drive growth
in Remote Towers for air traffic Tower is exactly what airports need in order research program to deploy remote towers
management to stay competitive and to reduce cost,” says and associated Remote Tower Centre (RTC)
20 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA