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.