Manchester Airport (MAN) located in the north of England, and Britain’s third busiest airport in terms of passenger throughput, is to be the UK’s first major international airport to adopt a ‘hybrid’ digital control tower as part of a project announced by the UK’s National Air Traffic Control Service, or NATS.
Working in collaboration with the digital technology company Searidge Technologies, the airport will become a pioneer in the deployment of operational grade, ultra-high definition panoramic cameras which will be used to aid air traffic controllers working in the Manchester Airport control tower to manage and optimize the airport’s entire ground operation, with the dual aims of enhancing the airport’s overall capacity and improving on-time performance for both airlines and their passengers.
As detailed in a NATS statement, air traffic controllers will use the live footage provided by these cameras to manage aircraft movements around the airport’s Terminal 2 extension. These images will be digitally enhanced and augmented in real time with relevant radar data and overlays to add additional information to controllers.
Searidge’s Digital Apron Management System (DAMS) will be deployed for those controllers working the tower’s ground movement control positions. According to NATS, the controllers will be provided with “pin-sharp and optimized views of the airport’s newly extended Terminal 2 stands and taxiways,” otherwise hindered by buildings and other structures currently in situ and standing in the direct line of sight.
The system will provide controllers with real-time coverage of 28 parking stands and four taxiways from two panoramic arrays of 4K digital cameras. NATS says the system could also later be enhanced to make use of ‘Aimee’, a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence engine developed by Searidge which includes features such as automatic monitoring of the turnaround process for aircraft parked on stands around the airport.
“The deployment of camera arrays around the airport will ensure the air traffic controllers continue to have unfettered views of anywhere on the airfield, while the use of radar overlays will enhance situational awareness,” adds NATS. The digital transformation program forms part of Manchester Airport’s wider expansion plans, which include a newly expanded Terminal 2. The Manchester DAMS system is scheduled to go live sometime in 2026.
“We are excited to be working with NATS and Searidge on this innovative new ‘digital control tower’ approach to managing our airfield,” said Gary Renault, Head of Airfield Operations at Manchester Airport. “Improving airfield efficiency is a key driver in our £1.3bn transformation programme which will help us unlock Manchester Airport’s full potential and deliver real benefits to people in the North. This system will decrease delays and help us operate more flights, meaning greater choice, value, and flexibility for our passengers.”
“This really is the next generation of airport operations, where the combination of cameras and Searidge’s digital technology platform enables better decision-making, which can be shared right across the airport community,” added Andy Taylor, NATS Chief Solutions Officer for Digital Towers. “The work Searidge is doing is pioneering and Manchester’s embrace of this new technology puts them at the very forefront of the industry.”
Meanwhile, Steve Hathway, Vice President of Customer Solutions, Searidge Technologies, said: “We are delighted to be working with Manchester Airport to support them on their digital transformation journey. Partnering with NATS presents an exciting opportunity to continue the roll-out of our advanced technology platform; helping drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and future-proof airport operations.”
The first phase of the work will also see NATS and Searidge Technologies deploy a ‘test and development suite’ for any additional tools ahead of future operational rollouts. It will mirror a similar facility at Heathrow, where NATS and Searidge are in the detailed final design phase for a fully digital contingency tower for the West London airport,” Hathway concluded.
