Swedish regulators have given its air navigation service provider LFV the green light for the critical flight safety aspects of remote tower technology.

LFV’s Sundsvall remote tower centre will now come into operation this autumn, meaning that the airport in Örnsköldsvik will become the first in the world to be remotely controlled.

Saab’s remote tower technology was first installed at Örnsköldsvik airport in 2013. The Swedish Transport Agency has now given the Swedish air navigation service provider, LFV, clearance that the critical flight safety aspects (technic and operational procedures) of the technology are clarified.

Örnsköldsvik’s airport will, this autumn, be the first airport in the world to be remotely controlled by using Saab’s remote tower technology. Air traffic controllers at Sundsvall centre will then be able to remotely control take-offs and landings from Örnsköldsvik Airport, 100 km away.

The Saab product suite includes high definition cameras and pan-tilt-zoom cameras, surveillance and meteorological sensors, microphones, signal light guns and other devices for deployment at the airport.

Data from these sensors are sent to a remote tower centre (RTC) to be displayed in real time. A controller at the RTC has the tools, in addition to live video, to operate the airport in a similar manner as he or she would in a traditional tower

Saab’s ground breaking technology makes it possible to retain air traffic services at low traffic airports and has the potential to add services to airports without towers today. The technology also helps to improve safety and lower costs.

“Remote Tower makes it possible to have a network of airports operated from one location and we can see a great deal of interest from many parts of the world. I look forward to seeing what Saab’s technology can do for travellers,” says Håkan Buskhe, president and CEO of Saab.

The technology has been developed by Saab in close partnership with the Swedish air navigation service provider, LFV, to meet air traffic controllers’ operational needs. During the development work, it became apparent that some of today’s air traffic control towers are no longer optimally located. In such cases, the Remote Tower system can enable controllers to see areas of the airport without having to construct a new traditional tower. The camera unit can be positioned where it has the best overview and it can even be moved easily if needed.

Interview with Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO of Saab

