If you look at a tower controller's desk, the thing that stands out at many airports, is the growing clutter of screens, keyboards and pointing devices. This clutter shows how important automation has become to airport operations. It is also a symptom of the mutual isolation in which systems are developed. The Integrated Tower concept puts a stop to this fragmentation. This concept is essential to meet the demand for better punctuality and increased airport capacity, while maintaining a high level of safety.

In an integrated tower concept, the many systems at an airport exchange real time information and provide decision support to air traffic controllers. These systems include:

• Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control (A-SMGCS)
• Airfield Lighting Control
• Electronic Flight Strips
• Arrival Management
• Departure Management
• Stand Management
• Approach

High return on investment

The integrated tower concept benefits all airport stakeholders. For example:

• Information exchange leads to better predictability of traffic flows.
• Single data entry lowers workloads and avoids replication errors.
• The reduction in the number of screens results in much better ergonomics for controllers. This leads to better situational awareness and reduces the risk of errors.

The benefits are not limited to the airport alone, it also enables valuable feedback to Approach and Area Control.

Eurocontrol estimates a one year return on investment for an integrated tower solution.