The (Multi) Remote Tower:

A real innovation or a consequent next step for the

airport controlled area?
Manfred Mohr, IATA SESAR Assistant Director SFO

Hamburg, 23rd – 25th October 2018

1st International Conference on Digital Remote Towers

www.eu-china-app.org

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The IATA European Region

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IATA Continually Improve Aviation Safety
RTC and MRTC

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ABOUT IATA

Founded in 1945
As the prime vehicle for inter-airline cooperation in promoting safe,
reliable, secure and economical air services - for the benefit of the
world's consumers.

Our mission
To represent, lead, and serve the airline industry.

Our vision
To be the force for value creation and innovation driving a safe, secure
and profitable air transport industry that sustainably connects and
enriches our world.

IATA in numbers

290
member airlines
84%
of total air traffic
$387B
processed by IATA
financial systems

1,400+ 66
employees offices in 62 counties

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The EASA View and NPA 2017-21
 The concept of remote provision of
aerodrome air traffic services (ATS)
(commonly known as ‘remote towers’
or ’remote tower operations’,
sometimes referred to as ‘digital
towers’) enables provision of
aerodrome ATS from locations/facilities
where direct visual observation is not
available. Instead, provision of
aerodrome ATS is based on a view of
the aerodrome and its vicinity through
means of technology. The term that is
used to describe this in this NPA is
‘remote aerodrome ATS’.
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 This Notice of Proposed Amendment
(NPA) addresses the technological,
procedural and operational aspects of
remote aerodrome ATS, in order to
facilitate its safe and harmonised
implementation throughout EASA
member states, in accordance with the
objectives of ATS.
 The overall objective of this rulemaking
task is a maintained or increased level
of safety in cases where ATS is
provided from a remote tower,
compared to ATS provided from a
conventional tower.
NPA 2017-21
 Therefore, this NPA introduces
‘guidelines on remote aerodrome
air traffic services’ – which is
within the scope of the current
regulatory framework
(Commission Implementing
Regulations (EU) No; 1034/2011,
1035/2011, 2017/373, 139/2014
and 923/2012) – intended to
support ATS providers and
aerodrome operators
implementing remote aerodromes
ATS, as well as to support their
competent authorities.
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 In addition to a safe and
harmonised implementation of
remote aerodrome ATS, the
proposed changes are expected
to promote the development of
new technology and to facilitate an
efficient and proportionate ATS.
 The content of this NPA does not
address social or economic
aspects related to remote
aerodrome ATS which would need
to be addressed at a local level.
RTC and SESAR 2020
 The RTC is identified by the ATM Master Plan 2015 (Chapter 4) as one of
the essential operational changes necessary to achieve the SESAR
performance ambitions.
 At Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport, an Advanced Surface
Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) along with high
definition video-camera technology is allowing Air Traffic Controllers at
remote locations to see ground traffic on radar, infrared and air traffic on a
video wall.
 The video wall, which displays a view in all directions, captures its
information from 60 video cameras located at one of 12 locations on the
airport. Nine of the 60 video-cameras are able to pan, tilt, and zoom very
fast (to assess known “hot spots”) or Landing Gear Issues.

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SESAR 1 Masterplan 2015

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SESAR 2020 Master Plan 2018
 Remotely provided Air Traffic Services (driver to performance – phase B): is
today a fact and the continuation of the concept to “Provided Air Traffic
Service for Multiple Aerodromes” will further increase cost efficiency of the
services.
 It will also provide increased accessibility to airports and reveals
opportunities for expanding services to regional communities. Focus will be
on traffic complexity, controller workload resilience etc. in order for
regulatory approval to occur. Example: the London City Airport!
 The flexible and dynamic allocation of airports connected to different
Remote Tower Modules will further increase the effectiveness of Remote
Tower Centre (RTC). Automation and digitalisation are areas of interest and
will play an important role in future evolution of Remotely Operated Tower
solutions for airports.

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The Airline IATA Position I
 1.Working together as is critical that
traditional tower and remote controlled
Tower staff are work together to evolve
daily operations.
 2. The next step should be a global
worldwide standard and the Multi
remote Tower configuration. In August
2015 the FAA has also begun
evaluating the remote tower
technology at a busy General Aviation
airport near Washington D.C.
http://tinyurl.com/njjkdbo .
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 3.Safety issues at the Airports and
respectable tower services are critical
under e.g. taxiing, low visibility,
security and safety aspects.
 4.Regulatory framework - The need for
a regulatory framework (potentially
using speeded up the processes) is
urgent in order to minimize impact of
the new operations (remote) on all
airspace users (BA, GA and SA) under
the RTC rules.
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The Airline IATA Position II
 5. New thinking of the classic ATM:
 We need to approach classic ATM and
airspace management differently
utilizing technology and ensuring data
availability and co-ordination between
airspace users is a top priority. The
role of the human (controller, operator,
pilot) needs to be re-evaluated. The
benefit and outcome (CB and BC)
shall be less charges and fees.
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 6.Harmonized global approach –
common language/understanding of
standards (camera, Infrared software
etc.) is needed to accommodate new
entrants in different
Tower/areas/regions and allow for
interoperability between all users.
Aviation System Block Upgrades
(ASBUs) and Global Air Navigation
Plan (GANP) – if needed.
 7.Multi Remote Tower concept - What
is their applicability to the old ATM or
the envisioned new UTM/USPACE
system, will it be to complex?
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The EUROCAE WG 100
 The European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment
 L’Organisation Européenne pour l’Equipement de l’Aviation Civile
 The standardisation activities of WG-100 shall consider experience of
airports and ANSPs in the field of Remote Tower, including:
 ICAO documentation, specifically ICAO Doc 9750 Global Air Navigation
Plan for CNS/ATM Systems (GANP);
 EASA Guidance Materials;
 Released SESAR project materials;
 The findings and results of applicable Remote Tower research,
implementations and technical developments.

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A new Topic: UAS safe, secure, efficient and fair
Integration

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Future Air Traffic Management Architecture and
Technology
 Support the development of a UAS Traffic Management
Concept, Question: can it be done via RTC?
 Involvement in concepts of operations for the introduction of
new technologies, for example sense and avoid and RTC?
 Develop a position on user charges for RPAS (including small
UAS) via ANSPs and RTC?
 Develop a a position for aviation spectrum use by RPAS
(including small UAS) ANSPs and RTC?
 UAS Position Lights and the new EASA Regulation 01/2018

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Thanks-Danke!

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