Surat: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is considering setting up a remote air traffic control (ATC) for Surat airport to be operated at Ahmedabad airport in order to cut costs and overcome labour shortages.
This technology is already in use in various developed countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland and Sweden. The remote ATC tower enables flights at multiple airports to be monitored from one location, reducing the need for air traffic controllers and physical towers at every airport.
A few companies based in Sweden and Canada are in talks with the airport regulator to bring the technology to India.
Official sources said the remote ATC tower will go a long way in increasing air connectivity as well as bringing down airfares. However, availability of reliable power and telecom connectivity could be a challenge for companies setting up the remote ATC towers.
"There is no doubt that Surat has been selected for remote ATC tower in Gujarat. But, it is our concern whether the traffic will be controlled from Ahmedabad and what about the physical ATC tower in Surat? If the remote ATC technology is new to India then we expect more flights from Surat airport in future," said Linesh Shah, member of the 'We Work for Working Airport at Surat' group.
The AAI has invited expression of interest (EoI) for supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the remote ATC tower for Surat to be operated from Ahmedabad and alternate tower for Ahmedabad airport to be submitted by November 22.
Sources said the remote ATC allows the concrete control towers at the airports to be replaced with dozens of high resolution, infra-red cameras around runways that feed live images to screens in buildings far from the airport.
This technology is already in use in various developed countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland and Sweden. The remote ATC tower enables flights at multiple airports to be monitored from one location, reducing the need for air traffic controllers and physical towers at every airport.
A few companies based in Sweden and Canada are in talks with the airport regulator to bring the technology to India.
Official sources said the remote ATC tower will go a long way in increasing air connectivity as well as bringing down airfares. However, availability of reliable power and telecom connectivity could be a challenge for companies setting up the remote ATC towers.
"There is no doubt that Surat has been selected for remote ATC tower in Gujarat. But, it is our concern whether the traffic will be controlled from Ahmedabad and what about the physical ATC tower in Surat? If the remote ATC technology is new to India then we expect more flights from Surat airport in future," said Linesh Shah, member of the 'We Work for Working Airport at Surat' group.
by via Surat News, Latest Surat News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India
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