Jersey Airport is set to become the British Isles’ first provider of Remote Tower Service technology following a development program with aviation specialists.
The new technology has the ability to perform usual air traffic services from an alternative location away from the airport control tower. The only other certified remote tower operation in Europe currently is in Sweden.
The system consists of a display feature showing a 220° view of the airfield, emulating the view that air traffic officers see from their control tower. It also has two zoom cameras allowing for detailed close-up views of aircraft in the ground and in the air.
Les Smallwood, senior air traffic control officer at Jersey Airport, said, “This solution will provide guaranteed resilience in the event of equipment failure or the need to evacuate the main ATC facility at the airport. Additionally, we hope that being at the forefront of this technology will enable Ports of Jersey to expand its business portfolio in this area”.
Ports of Jersey’s decision to implement the Remote Tower Service technology was driven by its wish to increase the likelihood of still providing air traffic services in the event of a technical failure at Jersey Airport. This means that the visual control room and approach facility can still be operated from a remote location, allowing aircraft to continue to operate in and out of Jersey and Channel Islands Airspace.