He also says that the new technologies will increase safety. The facility will be home to similar staff numbers to that at the proposed site in Inverness, but Lødding sees that as adding value, at least for Norway: “This will enable better knowledge sharing between staff, and make our services more robust with regards to rostering and back-up.”Īlthough Avinor’s commentary around the project seems positive, it has presented similar questions: what about the existing staff? The state-owned company says it has been working to support employees whether they chose to relocate or find work outside of the organisation, Lødding says. Norway already has Røst and Vardø airports operational with a further 13 coming on stream by 2022, all being managed by the remote centre in the Arctic city of Bodø. “The remote towers system will make our tower services more cost effective, at the same time it will provide better solutions and tools compared with conventional tower services,” says Avinor’s Erik Lødding, vice president of strategy and public affairs. “The remote towers system will make our tower services more cost effective.” In October 2020, Norway’s air navigation services provider and airport operator Avinor cut the ribbon on what is said to be the world’s largest remote ATC centre. We want to offer our ATC staff the best opportunities for career progression within the organisation therefore, the company must modernise its operations.” Remote ATC arrives in Norwayĭespite the difficulties in Scotland, remote ATC is already making a splash elsewhere in Europe. It accepts there could be local job losses but adds: “HIAL will remain a significant and committed employer in our communities, offering high-quality local employment. HIAL says staff and unions, airport managers and senior HIAL representatives have been involved throughout the process, with politicians being kept informed every step of the way too. From the outset we have been clear that the project is not an exercise in cost saving, its primary focus is to act as the foundation stone for sustainable air services.” They say: “Without change, we cannot give that guarantee and air services in the future could inevitably be compromised. “It’s not going to change the cost of air traffic… The radar is the same, the staff are the same, so it’s not going to save you any money.”Ī spokesperson for HIAL refutes the suggestion the move is to save money, arguing that it’s about ensuring quality navigation services for the future. “Studies are now showing that actually the cost of running a remote centre versus the cost of local centres is about the same,” Avery says. Prospect believes the project will be difficult and cost millions, without any long-term cost or operational benefits. “What HIAL is proposing is essentially to get rid of all of the staff they currently have and replace them with others… So you’ve potentially got a situation where HIAL will make nearly 50 staff across six airports redundant, and then have to reemploy the same number in Inverness.” Because it’s not something you get taught in school, it’s not something that is particularly obvious to you,” he says. “The pass rate of NATS training courses is less than 5%. Avery warns many of the employees across the sites would not move to Inverness, meaning their wealth of experience would be lost. Whilst Prospect does have some safety worries about the proposal, it’s main focus is the brain drain of highly trained staff already in post and adding value to communities. “We don’t see how this generates value for those communities, protects jobs and delivers a better service,” Avery says.Īvinor recently opened the world’s largest remote ATC centre. Prospect argues that for Shetland and the other facilities earmarked, moving the role to a centre in Inverness would have a devastating impact for local communities. However, in this case, the issue has more to do with the implications ATC has for those on the ground. In amended guidance earlier this year, it said: “Visual observation shall be achieved through direct out-of-the-window observation, or through indirect observation utilising a visual surveillance system which is specifically approved for the purpose by the appropriate ATS authority.”
The statement raises questions, given that the International Civil Aviation Organization supports the use of remote ATC.
Speaking to local media, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Shetland Beatrice Wishart warned that “despite legitimate concerns, HIAL continues to push on with this project”. It seems the union isn’t the only critic of the plan in fact, it has been widely condemned by local communities, authorities and even politicians at a national level. “We don’t see how this generates value for those communities, protects jobs and delivers a better service.”
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