News / Concerns over remote digital towers
UNIONS and local politicians have voiced serious concern after it emerged that Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) is looking at proposals to do away with air traffic control towers across its network of airports.
Dozens of highly skilled and well paid jobs could be on the line if HIAL centralises air traffic control to one remote digital tower – likely to be based at Inverness.
Trade union Prospect said it would oppose attempts to move air traffic control jobs from the islands as HIAL – a company owned by Scottish ministers – had an obligation to be serving rural communities.
Meanwhile, Northern Isles MSPs Tavish Scott and Liam McArthur had a private meeting with HIAL chief executive Inglis Lyon and the company’s chairman Mike Cantlay on Tuesday evening to express their concerns.
HIAL said they were at a very early stage of considering the proposal and no decision had been taken.
Remote digital towers are seen as “the ideal concept for regional airports”, allowing air traffic controllers to run several airports from one location, and therby saving millions in operating costs.
Sweden was the first country in the world to put remote air traffic control towers into operation, however so far they are not used in the UK – although trials are being conducted by air traffic control service NATS.
There is little doubt that remote digital towers will replace traditional air traffic towers in many places, however they require high speed broadband and stable power supplies, preconditions that are difficult to meet in Scotland’s islands and remote communities.
Prospect negotiations officer David Avery said air traffic controllers and support staff had already been briefed by HIAL on the possibility of ending air traffic provision in the islands.
“HIAL exists to serve island and remote communities in Scotland. As part of this duty we believe that they should be supporting these communities by providing high quality employment locally,” Avery said.
“By moving these jobs to an as yet undecided central location the communities around Kirkwall, Benbecula, Sumburgh and Stornoway will be losing skilled jobs that are unlikely to be replaced.
“Prospect is also concerned that the telecommunications infrastructure required to operate a remote tower set up does not yet exist in these areas.
“Outages are still a reasonably common occurrence but with skilled air traffic controller in situ the airports normally remain open. This would not be possible with remote towers.”
The union is now calling for a public consultation taking into account the views of staff and users before the proposals are approved – as is MSP Scott.
Following the meeting with Inglis and Cantlay, he said the HIAL board was now aware that this issue needed to be dealt with in an open and transparent fashion.
“It needs some convincing that centralising this service in Inverness would provide advantages in aviation,” Scott said.
“If ultimately there cannot be a fail-proof communication system then I cannot see how the existing towers in the islands can be possibly taken away.”
Both Inglis and Cantlay declined to be interviewed following their meeting with the Northern Isles politicians. Instead HIAL issued the following statement.
“HIAL is currently in the very early stages of exploring opportunities presented by new and emerging air traffic technologies which could have the potential to enhance the sustainability and resilience of air traffic services across the operation,” it said.
“Our staff and other key stakeholders have been informed and will be fully involved in the process. The review will include an evaluation of remote tower technologies, centralised surveillance and controlled airspace.
“No decisions have been made at this very early stage in the process in relation to any change to the current air traffic provision at HIAL operated airports and the scoping study is not likely to be discussed by the HIAL board until September at the earliest.”
HIAL employs around 55 air traffic controllers plus additional support staff across Scotland.
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