You've probably seen one or two in your lifetime; air traffic control towers that literally tower over major airports around the world..Usually, they have big windows, giving controllers a full view of what's going on..Keeping commercial aircraft safely separated and everything flowing smoothly..But what if you didn't need a tower like that. What if it didn't have windows at all..As impossible as that sounds, it is actually happening. And if it's successful, it's going to be happening more and more..According to a report in Defence Industry Europe, NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen has gone live with a digital tower.. Luftwaffenbasis Geilenkirchen.Luftwaffenbasis Geilenkirchen. .Made by Saab Inc., the base is now equipped with a state-of-the-art r-TWR system certified by the German Military Aviation Authority (LufABw) and will be utilized in all weather conditions..The facility is NATO’s main operation base for its Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft fleet in Geilenkirchen, Germany..The military airbase also handles aircraft types ranging from the latest fighter jets to helicopters..“This is an important milestone for Saab going operational with the digital air traffic solution within the military domain," said Per Ahl, CEO of Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions (SDATS).. Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft.Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft. ."The digital tower provides a flexible and scalable solution that is proven to be suitable for military airbases as well as civilian airports of all sizes.".The digital tower technology is operated from a control room at the airbase. and includes sound reproduction, high-definition cameras mounted on the mast to capture a 360-degree live feed of the airfield, and pan-tilt-zoom cameras..No matter what the weather is outside, controllers will get a superb view of what's happening at any given moment, day or night.. Digital Tower technology.Digital Tower technology. .Saab has more than five years experience in digital tower technology..The Saab solution is used to operate the Ornskoldsvik airport from the Remote Tower Centre in Sundsvall since April 2015, MilitaryLeak.com reported..A Saab Digital Tower is also remotely operating the Scandinavian Mountain Airport in Dalarna, Sweden, the first airport to be built in Sweden since 1999. This tower uses 17 wide-angled cameras to survey this airport..It is also the first airport in the world designed to be operated from the outset with a Virtual Tower rather than a conventional ATC tower.. AWACS logoAWACS logo .According to a recent project involving Ottawa-based Searidge Technologies at London's Heathrow airport, it was determined digital tower systems would not only reduce delays for the airlines and their passengers, but it would also ensure safety is maintained and reduce the monitoring workload on the controllers..This would free them up to make other key decisions, whether that’s in support of capacity growth, resilience, safety, or efficiency, according to a report in International Airport Review..Searidge’s AI platform, known as AIMEE, continually monitored arrivals on Runway 27R/09L, identifying over 40,000 arrivals in all..Data analysis proved hugely exciting, showing AIMEE performed extremely well, including being able to identify aircraft in poor weather conditions and in darkness, when the 4K cameras were shown to perform better than the human eye..In 2021, London City Airport became the first major international airport to fully be controlled by remote air traffic control towers. The new 50-meter-tall tower has no place for ATC operators to sit; instead, it houses a group of smart cameras.. Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft.Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft. .According to simpleflying.com, London City's high-definition pan-tilt-zoom cameras are able to get a very precise magnification of up to 30 times, allowing in-depth focus on an object for close inspection..The live feed on the 14 high-definition screens can also be overlaid with information — such as in-depth weather information, altitude and speed of aircraft coming in and leaving the airport, and their call signs —to help the air traffic control team..While the US Federal Aviation Administration is currently evaluating Virtual Air Traffic Control Tower systems to assess its suitability for use in the National Airspace System (NAS), none are currently approved for non-federal use..Nav Canada also partnered with Searidge Technologies in a 2020 trial that involved flight service specialists in Saint John, N.B., providing real-time aerodrome advisory services (AAS) to Fredericton International Airport (YFC)..According to Skies magazine, sitting in a darkened room at Saint John Airport, the flight service station (FSS) specialists peered at three monitors connected to eight cameras installed on the YFC control tower, roughly 100-km away by car..Although Nav Canada installed Searidge camera systems at other Canadian airports, they have so far served only to augment the view of onsite air traffic controllers and FSS personnel.. Nose art on a KC-135 Stratotanker at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen.Nose art on a KC-135 Stratotanker at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen.
