New towers, new equipment

More efficient use of airspace

The new air traffic control towers that have risen up at the airports in Rovaniemi and Kuopio are a tangible reminder to passengers of the air navigation project, in conjunction with which Finavia’s joint civilian and military airports are being improved. As air traffic increases, the aim is to maintain the level of air navigation services at these airports serving both civilian and military air traffic through the reforms.

“Nearly everything that can be seen will be renewed in the air traffic control premises,” says systems manager Hannu Hervos, while explaining about the project.

The air traffi c control towers are being fitted out with new equipment, which will enable the introduction of the latest version of the Eurocat air traffic control system, for instance. Eurocat, which complies with common European requirements and is highly standardised, is already in use in the Southern Finland Air Navigation Centre, the approach control office at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and the area and approach control at Rovaniemi.

“Common working environments and working methods are being designed for the aerodrome control towers. Radar screens will be installed in the towers which will enable aerodrome control to provide radar services in the future. The tower radar will enable Finavia to provide its customers with more cost effective air traffic control services and to guide approaching and landing planes directly to the correct route. The benefit will be experienced by passengers in the form of faster connections and by airlines in the efficiency of the air traffic control service and a reduction in fuel costs.”

The new integrated tower system collates information from several instrument systems onto one screen environment. As a result of the Eurocat system, coordination between the different air control units will improve: all the data on flight plans will be transmitted electronically from one air traffic control unit to another. The biggest change at joint operational airports is the changeover of the coordination between the tower and approach control office to an electronic procedure.

Work on installing the new instrument systems has begun at the airports in Rovaniemi and Kuopio. The towers can be taken into operational use after testing and official authorization in summer 2008.

“The new higher towers have a better view of the manoeuvering
area and the aerodrome traffic circuit. This will increase air traffic safety and facilitate the work of air traffic controllers also with respect to guiding traffic on the ground,” says Mr. Hervos.

At the airports in Jyväskylä, Kauhava and Halli, new equipment and furniture will be installed in the premises that are to be renovated. A new building for the approach control service is being constructed at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport. The renovation taking place at these airports will be completed in autumn 2008.