Technology has created the possibility to provide aerodrome control service from a location other than the aerodrome itself. This new concept is being developed both in SESAR and NEXTGEN and is also studied in other countries such as Australia.
IFATCA Policy is:ATCOs shall not be required to provide Digital Air Traffic Services (DATS) to more than one aerodrome simultaneously. When implementing DATS, standards, procedures, guidance and clear requirements shall be developed. Requirements at a minimum should include, but are not limited to:
DATS shall provide an equivalent or greater level of safety, compared to the previous configuration. When replacing a conventional tower, DATS should be capable of providing an equivalent or greater level of service as the aerodrome control tower. Standardized training requirements shall be developed for all ATCOs that work directly or indirectly with DATS. A specific endorsement is required to operate at an aerodrome where DATS are provided. For reasons of safety and human factors issues the minimum frame rate in a digital air traffic services unit shall be 25 FPS. |
Last Update: October 2, 2023