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Launch of the first digital air-traffic control centre in Wallonia
This Monday, 15 April 2024, Namur marked a historic moment with the ground-breaking for the future digital air-traffic control centre for airports in Wallonia. The ceremony, which was held in the Ecolys industrial area, was attended by the Minister for Transport, the Walloon Minister for Airports, the Burgomaster of Namur and the Governor of the Province, among others.
This project, which is the first of its kind in Belgium, represents Wallonia’s transition to an ambitious digital ecosystem, and is expected to be operational in 2026. The centre will be equipped with advanced technology, and will serve as a benchmark in terms of sustainability, using geothermal energy, solar power and sustainable materials. It will also serve as the new headquarters for SOWAER.
A ‘ZEB’ design
The building, which measures approximately 3,800 m² across three floors, is located midway between the Liège and Charleroi airports, and blends seamlessly into its environment, with a design in the shape of an airplane wing. It is covered in 1,800 m² of zinc, which corresponds to the surface of three A320-200 fuselages.
This project is the result of a close collaboration between various stakeholders, including skeyes and the Thomas & Piron Bâtiment – Cegelec – Vinci Facilities group, says Nicolas Thisquen, the Chairman of the Management Committee of SOWAER. It symbolises a commitment to carbon neutrality and optimal energy management. The building is a Zero Energy Building (ZEB), meaning that any theoretical electrical consumption by heating, air conditioning and lighting equipment will be offset by solar installations.
Top-of-the-line security
This high-tech facility will eventually replace the physical air-traffic control towers at the airports in Liège and Charleroi, and will thus ensure modern and centralised management of air traffic. It is crucial to highlight the importance of this centre in positioning Wallonia as a pioneer in air-traffic control technology and reducing environmental impacts.
The system will integrate smart cameras and augmented reality to improve the management of air traffic, even in conditions of low visibility. The CEO of skeyes, Johan Decuyper, has confirmed that the installation will make it possible to effectively manage air traffic at the airports in Liège and Charleroi, improving safety and ensuring greater reliability in the aviation sector.
The 400 m² operations room will not have any structural elements, and each airport will have its own operating area with 15 screens (14 with images and one backup). The 14 high-definition cameras are installed on masts, which are currently being installed at the two airports in question.
The future of air-traffic control
Reporters from this ultra-secure centre (system redundancy, electromagnetic shielding, etc.) have also noted that this innovation will bolster the safety and efficiency of air-traffic controllers, making air-traffic control more cost effective and less polluting by reducing taxiing and waiting times and, as a result, CO2 and NOx emissions.
Construction on the centre has already begun, and is expected to be complete by autumn of 2025. The construction is managed by Thomas & Piron Bâtiment, in collaboration with several partners, and promises to comply with the most exacting standards with respect to safety and environmental sustainability.
In this way, Wallonia is preparing to become a leader in sustainable digital airport management, which is expected to have positive impacts on the environment and for the local economy.
A flagship project for the BEP
This project, which is symbolic of an ambitious digital ecosystem, is also very inspiring for the BEP, which naturally offered an ideal location in Ecolys to optimise its implementation. Seeing such an important centre built between Liège and Charleroi, right in the Walloon capital, is particularly satisfying for the people of Namur. SOWAER and its partners are also very grateful to the BEP for the support for this key investment.
