Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) hopes to buy air traffic control simulator to help train staff ahead of centralisation of the operation at New Century House in Inverness
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INVERNESS airport operator – Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) – is hoping to buy a simulator to help with the training of air traffic controllers ahead of plans to centralise the operation in Inverness.
The equipment would also be used for the research and development of the new infrastructure which it is planned will be operated from a combined surveillance centre at New Century House in the Highland capital.
It has been put out to tender via the Public Contracts Scotland website and also includes associated peripherals, spares, services and support for the kit.
The website states that the simulator would enable new procedures to be worked up and tested, permit camera location positions to be modelled, demonstrate the ability to use multi-runway operations utilising the 3D tower simulation, and testing of Radar in the Tower procedures.
A Hial spokesman said: “The air traffic simulator will help develop radar approach procedures and the delivery of training as we move towards the implementation of approach radar services at Sumburgh airport in Shetland.
“Additionally, it will allow us to deliver surveillance-based training and airspace modelling at other Hial airports.
“Prior to putting the contract to tender we worked with Hial colleagues to identify the requirements needed to develop a full training programme for air traffic control staff. The simulator’s role in remote tower delivery will be determined as the project progresses.”
The centralisation plans are part of a wider £28million plan to deliver a remote aircraft monitoring system.
New tower technology will be installed at Dundee, Inverness, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Stornoway airports – leaving airports unmanned and controlled by staff at the proposed centralised base in Inverness.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has previously been critical of such centralisation and said the radar and managed air space could be put in place without centralisation and remote towers.
She added: "There is the possibility that equipment could be used to train staff on the use of radar, however it would appear that this equipment is required for implementing remote towers and the damaging centralisation plan which HIAL is stubbornly pushing ahead with.
"It is disappointing that HIAL refuses to listen to other options and indeed listen to the needs of the communities it should be serving. They continue to squander public money on an untested system that will ultimately damage the economy of the islands.
"While I would normally welcome investment into staff training and opportunities, the contract to purchase a simulator, and the small fortune that has been spent on this plan to date, are evidence that HIAL is determined to push the ATMS plan through no matter what objections are made, what consultations are still outstanding and despite the ongoing lack of an Islands Impact Assessment.”
