Swedish airport gains approval for operation of Saab remote tower technology
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 6 Nov. 2014. Officials at the LFV Group, the Swedish Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) and transport agency, have granted final operational approval for the remote operation of Örnsköldsvik Airport from Sundsvall, Sweden. This achievement means the world’s first airport remotely controlled by Remote Tower Services (RTS) from defense and security company Saab will commence shortly, paving the way for more efficient, safe, and cost-effective delivery of air traffic control services.
“This achievement means we have a system in place that meets all applicable safety regulations,” says Niclas Gustavsson, director of international affairs and business development, LFV. “With this final regulatory approval, LFV is now making the last preparations to enable RTS from Sundsvall, ultimately reducing operating costs and increasing the efficiency of operations.”
This milestone indicates that all technologies and operational procedures meet key industry and regulatory criteria for providing air traffic control services. This includes the use of Saab sensors and equipment for air traffic services and LFV’s existing procedures, enabling a streamlined approval process.
Saab sensors are deployed at Örnsköldsvik Airport that will provide data directly to a Remote Tower Center (RTC) also located at Sundsvall, 100 km away. The RTC utilizes multiple high-definition displays, various input devices and new air traffic controller tools that provide the same functionality as those already in use at Örnsköldsvik’s tower.
“Saab and LFV adopted a strategy that used new equipment that uses the existing procedures already approved by regulators and applied them to a new application,” explains Anders Carp, head of Saab’s Traffic Management business unit. “Air Navigation Service Providers and Civil Aviation Authorities across the globe now have a successful model in place for the regulatory approval process for remotely controlled air traffic services.”
Saab has pioneered the development of remote tower systems and technologies in cooperation with air traffic controllers and air navigation service providers (ANSPs), officials explain. Most recently, Saab entered into a partnership with the Virginia SATSLab Inc. and the Leesburg Executive Airport in the U.S. to demonstrate and evaluate Saab remote tower technologies at Leesburg Executive Airport, Leesburg, Virginia.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.