Distant Air Traffic Control for Regional Airports

This paper reports on field research conducted within the project VICTOR1 – Virtual Control Tower Research Studies – supported by the German air navigation service provider DFS-Deutsche Flugsicherung and concerned with the development of a distant tower facility for small or regional airports. In an user-centered approach, the provision of adequate information formerly acquired via looking out of the tower window is addressed. Subsequent research and development iterations are conducted engaging controllers at local airports throughout the process. The paper reports on results of a work analysis performed at three regional German airports and their implications for the design of a distant control tower.