LFV is helping develop the future of airport services in Örnsköldsvik

At Örnsköldsvik Airport LFV and its partners have established a research environment for the development of autonomous and remotely controlled airports. On Thursday the initial results of this collaboration were presented to a wider audience.

LFV and several research partners are jointly leading the Automated Vehicles for Airports Project (AVAP), and LFV is also the principal for the establishment of the Test Site OER research environment. LFV carries out research in all areas of civil aviation, with the main focus on safety, sustainability, capacity and cost-effectiveness. After local air traffic control services at Örnsköldsvik Airport were transferred to LFV’s control centre in Sundsvall for remote air traffic control, there was an opportunity to create a research environment in Örnsköldsvik. The airport has a fully equipped air traffic control tower which is not being used and is ideally suited for use as a research control and monitoring centre.

“The region is also home to considerable innovation potential, and this in combination with short lead times has contributed to the establishment of the research environment,” says Björn Wahlström, LFV’s head of research and innovation. On Thursday, systems and autonomous vehicles for surveillance, snow clearance, grass cutting and friction measurements were demonstrated at Örnsköldsvik Airport to invited representatives from the aviation industry.

“With the research activities LFV is pursuing there together with its partners in aviation digitalisation and automation we can increase the accessibility and efficiency of civil aviation. New partnerships create new opportunities and strengthen Sweden’s position in digitalisation and innovation. LFV is creating smart solutions for future air travel,” says Björn Wahlström.

Attached images shows vehicles for snowsweeping and mowing and Björn Wahlström, Head of RoD at LFV.

For more information, please contact LFV’s press service at +46 11 19 20 50.

Facts about LFV
LFV is Sweden's leading provider of air traffic control and associated services for civil and military aviation. Our air traffic controllers manage around 2,000 aircraft within Swedish airspace every day. LFV pioneered remote air traffic control and is a driver of digitisation in several areas. By participating in various collaboration efforts we help make the use of European airspace more efficient. LFV has 1,100 employees and has an annual turnover of SEK 3.2 billion.