The very latest design in Mobile ATC Towers from Host Systems has enabled the British Royal Air Force to develop ATC capability at Camp Bastion to an amazing 400 movements a day, ranking it just below Stansted Airport in terms of aircraft movements.

The system in Camp Bastion was delivered as a standard fully mobile elevating system mounted on a trailer, but the system is sufficiently flexible to enable the ATC Cabin to be operated independently of the trailer with all power and interfaces being transferred into a remote Appliqué Box. Therefore when there was need in CB to mount the ATC Cabin on to a prefabricated platform, the cabin was easily removed in minutes using quick release electrical inputs and cabin ISO connections.

The internal equipment fit was completely the choice of the RAF, cloning existing main tower equipment in terms of radios, VCCS, MET, AGL and other interfaces, this ensured commonality of systems, ease of training and reduced the obligations of extra spare parts.

Host’s new design fully mobile elevating ATC tower is air transportable by C-130 and C-17 and has successfully undergone extensive live trialling with RAF Chinook helicopters where the trailer and cabin are separated for under slung movement. “The rigorous and demanding operational requirements of the RAF have proven to be a great help in the design profile” commented Michael Brunton, Managing Director. ‘’ This has enabled Host Systems to have the most technically advanced system in the world with many specifications not known by other manufacturers but which have been deemed essential to in theatre operations by the RAF’’.