Air traffic system tests begin

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has begun testing a system that would allow air traffic control functions at Shannon and Cork airports to be undertaken from a remote centre in Dublin.

Dedicated towers, with high-definition cameras providing 360 degree coverage, have been constructed at Shannon and Cork and will feed high definition imagery to a Remote Tower Centre (RTC) at Dublin Airport.

Aerospace and defence company Saab has pioneered the development of the remote tower system in co-operation with air traffic controllers and air navigation service providers. The Swedish company signed a contract with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last year to deliver the remote tower installations.

The towers are equipped with high-definition, ‘pan-tilt-zoom’ cameras (which can be pointed in different directions, and zoomed in or out from a remote location), surveillance and meteorological sensors, microphones, signal light guns, and other devices.

The remote tower installations at Cork and Shannon will be operated from Dublin Remote Tower Centre and will be a part of the large scale evaluation being carried out by SESAR, the air traffic management research project of the European Commission’s Single European Sky initiative.

IAA director of air traffic management operations and strategy, Peter Kearney said:

“In our drive to become ever more cost-effective, we’re constantly seeking innovative approaches, through cutting-edge technology, to enhance our ATM (air traffic management) service offering. Remote tower operations are part of the future and it is something the IAA is very keen to exploit.

“Through this work with SESAR and Saab we will lead a further evolution of remote tower technologies in Europe paving the way for permanent deployment of remote tower solutions.

“There are many critical areas to be addressed and safety and operational reliability must be guaranteed. Once this is successfully addressed, the IAA envisages that the remotely-operated tower will play a vital role in the future of ATM service provision in Ireland and beyond.”