Saudi Arabian regulators have formally approved the kingdom’s first virtual air traffic tower, which oversees operations at AlUla airport.
The Saudi air navigation service SANS has received an operating licence for the tower from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, according to the Saudi government’s official news channel.
AlUla’s traffic is controlled remotely through a centre at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz international airport.
SANS reached an agreement with Spanish air traffic systems specialist Indra in 2022 to develop a tower for AlUla.
Under the agreement the tower would become the first such installation in the Middle East region, handling departures and arrivals at the northern airport.
Indra pointed out at the time that the “revolutionary technology” could be applied to a “large number” of medium-sized airports in the region, all managed from a single virtual centre.
Saudi Arabia is modernising its air navigation system as part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategic economic programme which includes enhancing tourism growth.
AlUla’s virtual tower is equipped with 360° high-definition cameras, sensors and artificial intelligence capabilities for airspace monitoring and analysis.
