Remote Towers: A new standard for air traffic management

Over the past decade, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Avinor have worked closely to develop a new way of delivering air traffic control. What began with the NINOX programme agreement in 2015 has evolved into the world’s largest implementation of digital remote towers.

  • Text:Amanda Chapman-Stavn / KONGSBERG

    Photo:KONGSBERG / Øystein Løwer, Avinor

As of April 2025, 14 airports across Norway are managed from a single Remote Tower Centre (RTC) in Bodø, Norway. And, with the current schedule additional seven airports will go live within the next 2-3 years. In addition, a standalone digital tower solution – based on the same technology – will be established in Bodø by 2029.

Remote tower technology has moved from concept to operational reality – with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace at the core of its development. In close collaboration with Avinor and Indra Navia, the digital tower system has been designed to deliver safe, flexible and cost-efficient air traffic services.

“Designing an operational system like this requires more than engineering. It requires direct feedback from those who rely on it. That has shaped both the technology and how it’s used,” says Hans Lie, Vice President Market & Sales at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, adding:

“Managing 14 airports from a single control centre is not only a national achievement – it sets a new global benchmark. In continuous use since 2019, the system now forms the foundation of the world’s most advanced remote tower programme.”

From the start, Avinor’s operational insight has helped shape a system tailored to the daily realities of airports, where conventional control towers are increasingly impractical.

Avinor is satisfied with the close collaboration with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace ever since the contract was signed in 2015. Development of the final software has been a demanding process forcing both Avinor and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to be flexible in new ways to agree on how the details in the software should be designed enabling multiple operations as the overall goal.

Jan-Gunnar Pedersen, EVP at Avinor Air Navigation Services

A new approach to tower operations

Instead of being located at each airport, the operators work from a centralised control centre. Cameras, microphones and sensors installed locally transmit real-time video and audio to the RTC, where certified operators monitor and manage aircraft movements as if they were on-site.

The system supports routine operations, contingency use, and scalable multi-airport configurations. Its open architecture allows for integration with future air traffic management frameworks, such as Europe’s SWIM (System Wide Information Management).

High-resolution day and infrared cameras ensure visibility in all conditions – including night, fog and heavy weather. Smart overlays display aircraft positions, runway data and weather information. Real-time airport audio is also streamed to recreate the local soundscape, enhancing situational awareness.

Global milestones

Between 2022 and 2025, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has reached three significant global milestones in remote tower technology:

  • The Remote Tower Centre in Bodø becomes the world’s largest digital tower operation  

    2007

  • A framework agreement is signed with NAV CANADA for the world’s most comprehensive digital tower programme  

    2009

  • The world’s first operational multiple-airport control capability is delivered, enabling a single controller to safely manage up to three airports simultaneously  

    2010

“Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is on the way to achieving no less than three world records in just four years,” states Lie.

Designed for long-term performance

The Kongsberg Digital Towers solution is engineered for sustainability – both operationally and economically. Its low technical footprint, combined with minimal bandwidth requirements, makes it well suited for areas where infrastructure or network capacity is limited.

The system architecture is modular, making it easy to update, expand or adapt as requirements change. It supports integration with airport lighting, radar, weather sensors and electronic flight strips, either as fully integrated components or alongside existing systems.

Avinor has outlined its motivation for implementing the Remote Towers System as part of its long-term strategy for air traffic management. The primary objective is to reduce capital expenditure by avoiding costly renovations or the construction of new control towers. Operational costs are also expected to decrease through the introduction of multiple operations, allowing up to three airports to be managed from a single controller position. Additionally, the system aims to provide a standardised and more robust service, ease recruitment challenges, and support the continued digitisation of air traffic services.

"The software version enabling multiple operations has been our goal since the programme began in 2015. Today, the software with multi-operations functionality is operational, and as soon as the regulator grants final approval, multiple operations will go live at the Remote Tower Centre in Bodø," says Pedersen, adding:

"As the current ATM system in Avinor approaches end-of-life within the next few years, Avinor will need to replace all ATM systems. The Remote Towers System delivered by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will play an important role in this transition in the years to come."

According to Pedersen, traditional control towers belong to the past. The future lies in digital tower operations, and the solution continues to evolve in line with operational needs. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s approach is guided by long-term collaboration, continuous improvement, and close dialogue with daily users of the system.

Digital Tower Center, Avinor

As air traffic systems face growing demands for flexibility, resilience and cost-efficiency, remote tower solutions offer a viable path forward. What began as an innovation programme is now a fully operational system – and one that is helping to define the future of air traffic control.

“We will continue to work with national and international partners to expand, refine and adapt the solution to new environments. Whether in Norway, Canada or elsewhere, the focus remains the same: delivering safe, efficient and future-ready air traffic services,” concludes Lie. 

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