Virginia’s Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) will once again be testing its remote air traffic control system this summer. The remote tower, which is staffed by off-site controllers using an array of on-airport cameras and microphones, is scheduled to begin its next round of test operations on June 25. According to the FAA, the testing is being done “to assist in the definition and validation of processes for operational approval of a remote tower system.”
A temporary mobile control tower will also be on-site and staffed to act as backup. If all goes well, the mobile tower will be phased out over the course of the testing. When the remote tower is not in operation, primarily GA Leesburg Executive is an untowered field. The Leesburg system, which underwent its first round ofoperational testingfrom June to September of 2017, was put together by Saab, a company that has also worked with airports in Ireland, Sweden and Australia on similar remote ATC technology.
JYO is the first remote ATC system test site in the U.S. AOPA and NBAA worked with the FAA to conduct a safety assessment of the program last year. “AOPA has been very active in supporting this initiative, and believes the system continues to demonstrate that it meets FAA requirements and facilitates the services pilots expect at a towered airport,” said AOPA senior director of airspace and air traffic Rune Duke. Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) is also scheduled to begin active testing of a remote tower system in fall 2018. Canada’s Searidge Technologies, in collaboration with the FAA, will be installing and testing the system at FNL.
