As i understand it (and i may be wrong) whilst the tower controllers will remain at the airfields the approach / radar controllers will still be centralised at Inverness. I think this was part of the agreement reached between HIAL and Prospect in October 2021 (Someone please correct me if i'm wrong)

This seems to make sense to me (after all it's been working fine for LHR / LGW / STN / LTN etc at Swanwick for a while!).

I expect the remote tower concept will go quiet for a few years then be resurrected once the radar hub is established and the remote tower technology has become more mature.

I imagine that finding controllers for these remote airfields who are satisfied to be tower only and not obtain or maintain their approach / radar qualifications will be a challenge (which may then be used as justification for introducing the, by then, more mature virtual tower technology).

That only requires a little thought and ingenuity on the part of HIAL!

2 s

There are no approach radar controllers in HIAL at the moment with the exception of Inverness. The plan was to bring Sumburgh radar in house (currently contracted to Nats in Aberdeen) and operate it from Inverness. All the other approach services as far as I know are procedural and co-located in the towers.
Are you saying that they're planning to turn them all into approach radar units?

Not saying that at all - sorry.

I was clumsy in my use of the approach / radar wording. I meant approach or radar.

I can’t imagine HIAL will be centralising APP controllers at Inverness - are ADI and APP at some of these airfields not the same person, at least some of the time?

Regardless, this is excellent news. Congratulations, HIAL folks.

Yes it's the same person, and I also doubt this will change.
Thanks for the clarifications.

Thanks for correcting my misunderstandings folks!
OH

So first of all, there are a bunch of approach radar controllers going through sim training to undertake the Sumburgh task, they’re at the new centre (an office building) in Inverness City.

Secondly it is HIAL’s stated intension to introduce a surveillance service at all it’s towered airports.

Latest statement and costing
 

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2022/01/2...n-of-9m-spend/1 of 1Advertisement

Transport / HIAL board discussing air traffic control options as it releases breakdown of £9m spend

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/wp-conten...0063-44x44.png
Chris Cope
24 January 2022 12:22


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https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-co..._2-470x270.jpgSumburgh Airport. Photo: HIALTHE HIGHLANDS and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) board is meeting today (Monday) to discuss options around its controversial remote air traffic control project – and it says it hopes to reach a “compromise” with the Prospect union.

Meanwhile the government-owned company has also now published the breakdown of its £9 million spend.This includes more than £2 million in project team staff costs, while the purchase of New Century House in Inverness – which would accommodate all aspects of the programme – set HIAL back £2.6 million.

HIAL set out to modernise air traffic control at Sumburgh, and a number of other airports in the region, by moving them to a central facility in Inverness and delivering services remotely.
https://mirror3.shetnews.co.uk/wp-co...-470x1020.jpegImage: HIALBut after fierce criticism, concern over island jobs and industrial action the project was paused to discuss alternatives in consultation with the Prospect union.

Earlier this year it was confirmed the procurement process.The £9 million spend figures, released this morning by HIAL, covers the period to 30 November 2021.

More than two thirds have gone on capital expenditure, including £324,051 on training simulator and centre set up costs.

The spend on the actual remote tower solution itself is just shy of £230,000, and this covers the procurement process.

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart previously said spending £9 million appeared to be “an expensive lesson” to learn that centralising air traffic control to a remote tower in Inverness “was not the most suitable [project] for the Highlands and Islands”.

Meanwhile chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s transport committee Ryan Thomson said it was an “ill thought out scheme”.
HIAL said in addition to releasing the expenditure figures that the ATMS project is a “complex and significant” management change programme, and that the remote towers element is one strand of this.

“The financial investment in the programme thus far provides a stable platform to move forward with the essential modernisation of air traffic services in the Highlands and Islands,” it said.

“The investment is already benefiting the organisation and providing resilience through the recruitment of seven Ab-initio staff (trainee air traffic controllers) for the modernisation programme and who are supporting operations for Sumburgh, Dundee, Wick and Kirkwall airports.”

The airport operator also said equipment and training has been used as part of the project for radar approach services at Sumburgh Airport.

The service is currently provided by NATS from Aberdeen but it will be delivered in-house at the end of the current contract.