Nav Canada pilots remote digital tower in Kingston as unions voice concerns

Nav Canada’s chief technology officer Dave Sheppard announced the completion of a digital aerodrome tower at Kingston Airport, the first of its kind in the country. The facility relies on rotating and pan-tilt-zoom cameras, infrared imaging and AI-enhanced tracking, feeding data to a remote control centre where controllers operate from 12 large curved screens. A similar tower is slated for Hamilton, with staff remaining at the Kingston hub, and the long-term goal is to centralise control for up to 15 airports.

While Nav Canada claims the system will ease a current shortage of roughly 200 controllers and provide rapid back-fill options, the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association’s president Nick von Schoenberg warns that the change could affect safety and deter experienced controllers from staying. Technology partner Kongsberg Geospatial highlights that the system is already deployed at airports in Norway and the United Kingdom, and aviation scholars predict it will become the industry standard within ten years. Ongoing testing, redundancy measures and regulatory approvals are required before full rollout, and Transport Canada has not yet commented.