The Remotely Operated Tower (ROT) is a breakthrough for airport operators and could be just what small and medium sized airports need to survive.

General
The remotely operated tower concept addresses many of the issues airport operators are concerned with, such as cost-effectiveness, safety, and punctuality. More than a few airports today suffer from a harsh economic situation and for some, the Remotely Operated Tower could mean the difference between survival and closure.

Cost savings
The cost running small and medium sized towers consists to a large extent of staff expenditures. With the Remotely Operated Tower concept, fewer employees will be needed to provide aerodrome controlservice, enabling airports that today only offer aerodrome flight information service to offer control service as well. In a next phase, one controller could potentially provide aerodrome control service for two to three towers simultaneously.

Apart from staffing, costs savings can be made by not having to replace existing towers that have reached their economical life length.