Saab Digital Tower
Saab's remote and digital tower system (r-TWR), used for remote tower services in Sweden, at London City Airport and at Leesburg Executive Airport in Virginia.
Verdict: The reference system for multi-airport remote centres, with an FAA decision at Leesburg; less suited to a single small US airfield.
Groups of regional airports run from one remote centre; international sites
Air navigation service providers that want to run airports' towers from a remote centre, including several airports from one centre.
No prices found on Saab's public pages. Ask Saab for a quote for your scope.
What it is
Cameras and sensors on the airfield send a live view to controllers in a remote tower centre. Saab says LFV, Sweden's air navigation service provider, launched remote tower services with the first generation of Saab's r-TWR from its Remote Tower Centre in Sundsvall in 2015, and planned for RTC Stockholm to serve four airports with the second generation.
London City Airport is controlled from NATS' centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, 115 km away, using a 50 m digital tower; NATS announced full operation in April 2021 and credits the technology to Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions.
In the US, the FAA issued an Operational Viability Decision on the Saab remote tower system on September 29, 2021, authorizing continued air traffic control services with it at Leesburg Executive Airport, Virginia, according to Saab.
Strengths
- Behind what Saab describes as the world's first remote tower services, launched in Sundsvall in 2015.
- In full operation at a major international airport (London City) as well as at Swedish airports served from remote centres.
- An FAA Operational Viability Decision for its system at Leesburg Executive Airport, Virginia.
Limits
- Most of its published deployments are run by national air navigation service providers from remote centres, not by a single small airport.
- No standard on-site footprint found in Saab's published material; ask Saab what your field would need.
- No prices found on its public pages.
How it scored
On the same published criteria as every other option.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small-airport fit | Partial | Serves regional airports, mostly through a provider's remote centre; in US service at Leesburg Executive Airport. |
| On-site footprint | Partial | No standard footprint found in Saab's material; London City uses a 50 m digital tower (NATS). |
| Controller location | Strong | Remote centres are its documented use (Sundsvall, Swanwick). |
| Night, low-visibility and backup coverage | Partial | Full-time remote service documented (London City); no published contingency or backup use found. Ask Saab. |
| US build, support and FAA alignment | Partial | Non-US supplier with an FAA Operational Viability Decision at Leesburg (2021). |
| Operational track record | Strong | Sundsvall remote tower services since 2015; London City in full operation since 2021. |
| Cost transparency | Limited | No prices found on its public pages. |