Penang’s RDVT – the first in the region – is set to take off in October
SEPANG: Imagine directing aircraft landing and departing from a room filled with high-definition screens, allowing air traffic controllers to zoom in and track their every movement in real time from almost 15km away.
This is set to become a reality this October at Penang International Airport (PIA) following the launch of the country’s first Remote Digital and Virtual Tower (RDVT), and the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
Unlike conventional towers, where air traffic controllers rely largely on visual contact through tower windows, the RDVT will enable them to zoom in on aircraft more than eight nautical miles (14.8km) away.
They can also monitor the airfield through a network of cameras and sensors displayed on digital screens.
“In conventional control towers, air traffic controllers rely on eyesight when it comes to navigating aircraft within the airport’s vicinity.
“With the technology applied under the RDVT, however, air traffic controllers can look even further beyond, enhancing efficiency,” said Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) deputy chief executive officer Zainul Abidin Maslan in an interview.
He said data from videos and cameras at a designated location on the airstrip will be transmitted directly to the RDVT.
“In terms of safety, controllers can also attach labels to aircraft to improve navigation,” he added.
These features, he said, would be particularly useful during periods of poor visibility caused by rain, haze or fog.
Zainul Abidin said the system will undergo extensive testing and validation to ensure it meets international aviation safety requirements before operations begin.
All 29 air traffic controllers based at PIA have also undergone extensive training.
The project, initiated several years ago, is expected to be rolled out this October, he added.
“Even controllers based at the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre have undergone training to ensure smooth coordination with the operators there,” he said, adding that PIA handles about 180 flights daily.
After PIA, Zainul Abidin said there were plans to set up an RDVT in Johor Baru before expanding the technology to other major airports nationwide.
The Johor RDVT is expected to be operational by 2028 at the earliest.
“The development of future RDVTs also depends on various opportunities and factors such as priority status and the age of the control towers themselves,” Zainul Abidin said.
The long-term goal, he noted, is to consolidate all air traffic control operations in remote centres.
“The end goal is to consolidate personnel in the peninsula at one location, with a centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for airports in the state, with the same for Sarawak,” he said.
Globally, RDVTs have been implemented at London City Airport, as well as in Sweden and Norway.
Meanwhile, CAAM technical division air navigation services director Mohd Fikri Ishak said Penang was chosen for the RDVT because of its strategic importance and ongoing airport expansion to cater to growing air traffic.
“We saw this as an opportunity to introduce one of the latest technologies available in the aviation industry and position Penang as a showcase for aviation innovation in Malaysia,” he added.
He stressed that the technology would not replace air traffic controllers.
He noted that experience gained from Penang could help CAAM assess future use of remote tower technology elsewhere in Malaysia.
“RDVT technology is not about replacing people.
“It is about equipping air traffic controllers with modern tools and enhanced safety systems,” he said.
