Insider - Peter A Walker

Plans to introduce remote control towers at some island airports have been dropped following strike action and opposition from local communities.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) said there will be a centralised surveillance operation for Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Inverness and Dundee airports, based at its existing approach radar facility on the Inverness airport site.

Air traffic tower services will continue to be provided locally at each of these airports.

Air traffic controllers took strike action last year over HIAL’s previous plan, which was to centralise operations in Inverness and introduce remote integrated air traffic control services for Inverness, Dundee, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh airports.

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