The aviation industry is currently facing extreme growth in air traffic. In European airspace, for example, 33,000 flights per day are being recorded on average. per EUROCONTROL, there’ll be virtually twice as many flights by 2030. The tasks of the players involved in the advanced aviation system will become even more demanding. More digitalisation is one answer to deal with this growth. The German air navigation service provider, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, has completed an important milestone with remote tower control; learning some important lessons along the way. Prof. Klaus-Dieter Scheurle, Chairman of the DFS Board of Managing directors, reveals the fruits of this work.
Given the sharp increase in air traffic, air navigation service providers are faced with several challenges to make sure that they continue to control flights safely, orderly and punctually. On the one hand, a lot of flexibility is required regarding the scheduling of air traffic controllers. However, this alone can not be the solution to the challenges of the long run. For this reason, additional efficient technologies, digitalisation and new structures will be at the forefront. Remote tower control (RTC) The introduction of remote tower technologies is an important step on the way to more digitalisation.
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) was the first in the world to use such an answer at an international airport. With over 15,000 flight movements per year and 360,000 passengers, Saarbrücken International airport is presently the largest airport in the world operating in regular RTC operations. this applies to both flight movements and passenger numbers.
Since its introduction in December 2018, controllers have handled more than 2,500 flights at Saarbrücken from the DFS Remote Tower Control Centre. The RTC Centre in Leipzig, which is located 450km away from Saarbrücken airport, has handled all take-offs and landings safely and without delays.
The advanced RTC Centre
Step-by-step, more airports will be added to the RTC Centre. Erfurt airport will be connected in 2020, followed by Dresden airport. Erfurt airport features a similar number of aircraft movements to Saarbrücken. Dresden airport has more than twice as many flights as the alternative two. In 2017 there were 36,480 movements – and operates a lot of mixed traffic.
These additions will enable DFS to take advantage of the full potential of RTC and increase efficiency. Thanks to synergies, DFS saves costs for air traffic control equipment, tower maintenance and can plan controller shifts more flexibly. After controllers have acquired the license endorsements required to control more than one airport.
For the controllers, the job will become more attractive, additional digital and more modern. it’ll provide additional variety than is the case today at similar medium-sized single-runway locations.
An extension of the project to other single-runway airports is conceivable in the future.
Highly developed technology and concept
The technical solution and the overall concept are very advanced and deliver accurate results thanks to years of research and development.
An advanced camera system with high-definition video and infrared cameras delivers a permanent 360-degree view of the airport. The controllers in Leipzig will adjust the view between 190 and 360 degrees to the traffic situation and switch between full high definition (HD) and infrared views. Additionally, the system can automatically detect movements and highlight up to 256 objects in parallel. Complementary pan-tilt-zoom cameras can track objects and work like automatic binoculars. high-performance sensors mean the system will deliver safe and efficient operations in each good and adverse visual meteorological conditions. further adaptations are planned for next year. for example, the aircraft on the panoramic display will then have labels with integrated flight plan data, which can be displayed or hidden. the entire camera system installed at the airport is heated and equipped with a cleaning system so that the cameras can neither fog up nor get dirty or iced up.
The overall concept is tailored to the requirements of air traffic controllers, who were involved in the development from the beginning. Operational concept and procedures weren’t changed.
The first research initiatives on RTC and its practicability started back in 2012 in Germany with a Human Factors Study together with the German Aerospace Centre. The redundant system was then developed in iterative steps. From selecting the technical solutions to numerous demonstrations, tests, training, simulations, and live operations. Until the final approval by the German Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services.
Turn-key solutions offered worldwide
Remote virtual tower solutions have generated high interest worldwide. Therefore, the DFS group and the Austrian high-tech company Frequentis, which developed the RTC system in use in Germany, have teamed up to deliver turnkey remote sensing solutions. DFS Aviation Services, a subsidiary of DFS, and Frequentis have established a joint venture, named Frequentis DFS Aerosense, to combine their technological and operational experience.
The remote tower solution can be customized for various scenarios. based on a scalable and modular air traffic management platform. It’s not only suitable for small- and medium-sized airports but also for contingency solutions and large airports. digitalisation and virtualization can support the safety and productivity of air traffic services at airports.
The joint venture offers a full range of services and products, including different camera systems and operational concepts. Once starting with a remote tower project, it’s fundamentally important to find the right solution depending on the envisioned use case. Equally important is the management of implementation, including training and transition, safety assessments and regulatory requirements.
The change management that comes with a fundamentally new concept is one of the great challenges.
RTC is a paradigm shift in air traffic control. With it, we are taking the first step into a brand new digital future.
Source
www.internationalairportreview.com
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