3.4. Remote tower centre (RTC)
ED Decision 2019/004/R
The ATS provider may provide remote aerodrome ATS from a centralised facility known as a remote tower centre (RTC), which could house one or several RTMs.
An RTC could be set up as shown in the example in Figure 1, with multiple RTMs and possibly one or more supervisor positions (depending on the size and requirements of the RTC). The RTMs can have an independent combination of either single-mode-of-operation or multiple-mode-of-operation scenario per each RTM, which may also change over time (i.e. changing from single to multiple mode of operation for one RTM, or vice versa). The allocation of aerodromes between RTMs may also be changed on a flexible basis (similar to the procedures for sector allocation within an area control centre (ACC)) in order to improve efficiency of resources or to respond to operational needs and demands. The ability to switch aerodromes between RTMs will depend on many factors such as ATCO/AFISO qualification and training, technical configuration of the RTMs, traffic schedule and distribution between aerodromes, and how such factors impact safety and human performance.
The required number of available RTMs in an RTC will depend on the number of aerodromes connected to the RTC, the complexity and size of the connected aerodromes as well as the need for additional/spare RTMs, based on contingency and service availability requirements.
Figure 1: Example of high-level overview of remote aerodrome ATS from an RTC