LFV - RTS revolutionises air traffic control

LFV's prize-winning RTS concept for remote tower services means that airports can significantly decrease their costs for air traffic services.


LFV Remote Tower Services (RTS) is now in operation. Air traffic control at Örnsköldsvik Airport in Sweden will - in Q1 2015 - be performed from a remote tower centre 200km away, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. After more than two years of focused work with the industry, the airport and the Swedish regulator (NSA), the operational approval for RTS was handed over on 31 October 2014. This was the key milestone that gave the green light for LFV to move the operation from the local tower to the remote tower centre.

The approval is based on more than 150 different documents and 500 questions from the regulator that required extensive analysis, validation, and possible modifications and changes to the procedures.

Flight safety has been the foundation for LFV when developing and approving RTS. Safety can never be jeopardised at any time. To a certain extent, RTS is more thoroughly tested and validated than a normal tower - ATCs have been trained and the system is working according to expectations.

During the approval process, more than 50 controllers, from different towers and airports have been involved in validation; thus, a solid base of experience has been created. The technical platform is developed by Saab Group. Together, LFV and Saab have created a new revolutionary Swedish invention.

This first operation of RTS is just the beginning of a change process. RTS will enable LFV to deliver a more flexible ATC product and reduce the costs, but also provide safety nets that cannot be made available at small/medium airports today.

During 2015 and 2016, LFV plans to have two more airports in Sweden controlled from a distance. The interest from its costumers is very positive.

"There are many airports with specific needs and constraints that realise that the future is in LFV RTS," says Maria Wall Petrini, director of sales at LFV.

The next generation of air traffic services

By deploying RTS, one or numerous air traffic control towers can be operated from another location irrespective of distance. The result is an airport that can offer more flexible air traffic services 'on demand' and versatile opening hours to meet customer requirements.

LFV has achieved extensive experience in cooperation with the industry as well as close interaction with the National Supervisory Authority. The effect of this is that the RTS development process has gone from idea to reality in record time. In tandem, LFV continues to work with various partners in the European SESAR programme to further enhance and refine the concept. The benefits of using the RTS solution include:

  • provision of cost-efficient air traffic services
  • an opportunity for airports with low traffic density to improve their service
  • co-location of ATS services means more efficient use of staff and infrastructure
  • an alternative to new construction or refurbishment
  • ATS on demand with flexible opening hours to meet customer requirements
  • ease of upgrading operational level from AFIS to ATC
  • the ability to provide 24/7 SAR operation and medical evacuation capability at any type of airport
  • enhancement of safety through new technology
  • low-cost contingency solutions.

Not only is LFV RTS here to stay, it also shows that technical innovations are drivers for change.


Remote tower services

A new generation of air traffic services awaits. An era in which modern technology, experience and knowledge combine to form a new concept, one that LFV have been developing over the past six years. A concept that will change the way the aviation industry perceives today's air traffic control services. A product called Remote Tower Services.

With Remote Tower Services, air traffic can be controlled at one or more airports from another location, regardless of distance. Moreover, air traffic services can be offered 'on demand', with flexible opening hours, around the clock, and a dynamic use of resources, which results in maximum cost-efficiency. Another benefit of Remote Tower Services is the ability to provide 24/7 SAR operations and medical evacuation capability. It can be an alternative to new construction or refurbishment, and it is possible to upgrade operational level from AFIS to ATC.

Since 2010, LFV has been at the leading-edge of developing and validating remote tower operational concepts for the European arena through the SESAR programme in partnership with ANSPs, industry and EUROCONTROL, thereby securing the buy-in of stakeholders on a European level, including airspace users and professional staff organisations.

Remote Tower Services forms part of the air traffic services of the future, and LFV specialises in how air traffic control can be streamlined and modernised with the help of new technology and methods. In addition to the provision of operative Remote Tower Services, LFV offers support through implementation, planning and project management, as well as operational support with a focus on safety and the human factor. LFV will launch and manage remote air traffic services in 2014 from its centre at Sundsvall.


LFV is a public enterprise with 1,300 employees that operate air navigation services for civil and military customers at 34 locations in Sweden. We are one of Europe's leaders in air navigation services and at the forefront to minimise environmental impact.
LFV has provided innovative and efficient services within the aeronautical sector for more than 70 years. Apart from offering core operational ATS provision, we can support any traffic organisation with the following:

  • - Operation and development of airport and ATS services, including operational support training
  • - ATS procedures and safety management
  • - Advanced ATM systems development and simulations
  • - Technical support through our certified ATS, CSN and MET services
  • - Flight inspection and surveying
  • - AIS and information management
  • - Airspace and flight procedures designs

Operating an airport can be a complicated task and places great demands on management and employees. LFV has over 70 years of experience of air traffic control services in Sweden and internationally. Everyday our traffic controllers ensure that the air traffic flows safely and effectively along with environmental consideration.

LFV was first in the world to integrate civil and military aviation in full operational mode. Sweden has in various ways improved airspace access and contributed to various customers' needs. Flexible use of airspace, green flights and collaborative decision making are the keys of building an optimally structured airspace for all users.

Our development of remote tower concept allows for air traffic management services to be provided at a distance. This means that cost efficient and safe air traffic management is available even in remotely located areas with a small population. The remote tower concept is promoted by LFV and SAAB.

LFV Aviation Consulting AB

LFV Aviation Consulting AB is a subsidiary of the LFV Group and was established in 1982 with the objectives of marketing LFV Group services overseas and carrying out international projects within the field of civil aviation. Since then the company has been active in more than 70 countries around the world. Our main markets are Asia, the Middle East and Africa and we are represented by specialists covering all aspect of air traffic management, airport management as well as regulations related to civil aviation.

NUAC

Since 1 July 2012, Swedish LFV and Danish Naviair provide air navigation services in Swedish-Danish airspace through the jointly owned company NUAC. This constitutes a cooperation that falls in line with the EU's goal of fewer national airspace blocks. In 2011 the EU nominated the Swedish-Danish cooperation for a functional airspace block as one of the ten most successful projects within the field of transport. The nomination was made from a range of 400 projects.

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Contact Details

LFV
Vikboplan 11 601 79
Norrköping
Sweden
Tel: +46-11- 19 20 00
URL: www.lfv.se

The Swedish Transport Agency has granted operational approval to LFV for the Sundsvall Remote Tower Center to provide ATS for Örnsköldsvik Airport.
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