LCY Remote Tower
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,173
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
In a real tower an ATCO can grab binoculars for a closer look at something, a fuel leak, damage visible etc. I assume this still happens? Does one lose the ability to get in close in real time (i.e. faster than looking for a zooming control and reimaging) when in a digital tower? Am thinking landing gear issue or panels open or missing....
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 562
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From: Home away from home
In a real tower an ATCO can grab binoculars for a closer look at something, a fuel leak, damage visible etc. I assume this still happens? Does one lose the ability to get in close in real time (i.e. faster than looking for a zooming control and reimaging) when in a digital tower? Am thinking landing gear issue or panels open or missing....
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 244
Likes: 23
From: UK
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 296
From: London
https://www.aviationnews-online.com/...use-expansion/
Expansion paused, has the Digital Tower gone live yet?
Expansion paused, has the Digital Tower gone live yet?
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: far far away
Genuine question - where do NATS stand if LCY now say they no longer need the digital tower or the expense associated with it? Is the on site airfield ATC facility still serviceable? I guess all airfields will be desperate to save cash, I don't think there are many who have spare cash to use on what is in effect a vanity project which has been sold to them by snake oil salesmen. I can't imagine digital towers being a massive priority for quite some time with airfields that have a perfectly adequate on site facility.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
From: Surrey, England
The digital VCR for London City was mainly conceived out of the airport plan to use the Control Tower site for stand expansion. If this expansion goes ahead and the Control needs demolishing, the cost of the digital VCR is supposedly equal to that of building a new Control Tower, if a suitable site can be found.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,718
Likes: 2,083
From: Reading, UK
The digital VCR for London City was mainly conceived out of the airport plan to use the Control Tower site for stand expansion. If this expansion goes ahead and the Control needs demolishing, the cost of the digital VCR is supposedly equal to that of building a new Control Tower, if a suitable site can be found.
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,456
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From: Wildest Surrey
Is it still intended that the controllers operating the digital tower for City will be at Swanwick?
I heard a rumour that this is also planned for Manston when it re-opens.
I heard a rumour that this is also planned for Manston when it re-opens.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
From: Surrey, England
Planned for Swanwick. In time perhaps the London City controllers could be cross trained to remotely control other airports such as Southampton? Of course in 8 years time another ANS provider could win and take-over the contract and do it from anywhere....Germany, Ireland, Sweden but hopefully not China!
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 115
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From: far far away
If one good thing comes out of this pandemic, I really hope that the entire remote tower concept is postponed for many years. As an old grumpy ATCO who has seen a great deal of change over the years (and the majority of changes very good), this has to be the daftest change I have come across. Its been a case of inventing a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist, then presenting it as the saviour of ATC and the future for all airports. Anyone raising objections is scorned as a technophobe and old fashioned. Safety concerns are risk assessed and sidelined. The entire project is dressed up in a safety first package when the real concern is pounds and pence, although I suppose that covers all ATC these days!
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 5
From: South of England
If one good thing comes out of this pandemic, I really hope that the entire remote tower concept is postponed for many years. As an old grumpy ATCO who has seen a great deal of change over the years (and the majority of changes very good), this has to be the daftest change I have come across. Its been a case of inventing a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist, then presenting it as the saviour of ATC and the future for all airports. Anyone raising objections is scorned as a technophobe and old fashioned. Safety concerns are risk assessed and sidelined. The entire project is dressed up in a safety first package when the real concern is pounds and pence, although I suppose that covers all ATC these days!
2 s
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,456
Likes: 368
From: Wildest Surrey
My source says lots of negotiations ongoing by beancounters and other people with no working knowledge or experience of civil ATC but looking to do it on the cheap.
Reckons a possible candidate for the 'remote tower' would be ANS at Gatwick!!
Who will do APS I don't know.(ANS Edinburgh?)
Reckons a possible candidate for the 'remote tower' would be ANS at Gatwick!!
Who will do APS I don't know.(ANS Edinburgh?)