CAAS awards contract for smart tower prototype in Changi Airport

The contract valued at close to $7m.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) awarded UK-based air traffic management service provider NATS a contract for the development of a smart digital tower prototype in Changi Airport.

According to a press release, the contract valued at close to $7m. The development will last for around 22 months.

CAAS will then evaluate the operational feasibility of the prototype before determining its suitability for Changi Airport.

The smart digital tower is expected to enhance air traffic management and safety of runway and ground operations, and to increase operational efficiencies at Changi Airport.

The awarded contract includes the setup of multiple fixed-position cameras to feed live video images onto a large video wall. This will provide a similar view to what air traffic controllers (ATCOs) currently see from a physical control tower.

The tender for the smart digital tower prototype was launched on 28 February 2017 and attracted a total of three bids.

NATS provides air traffic control services from centres at Swanwick, Hampshire and Prestwick, Aryshire, and air traffic control services at 14 of the UK's major airports.