Ben Gurion International Airport announced last week the completion of the construction of a new 100 meters high (328 ft.) air traffic control tower. The new tower will go into operation next September.
The new NIS 100 million control tower adjoining the west side Terminal 3, was built as part of the Lapidot's Committee's recommendations on improving safety at Ben Gurion Airport.
The Lapidot committee, created by former Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, declared the country's aviation security in a "catastrophic state," and criticized Israel's aviation infrastructure, saying it has not incorporated the technological advancements of the past few decades.
The location and features of the new control tower were determined after a detailed and comprehensive study in cooperation with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and aviation experts who sat on the Lapidot Committee.
The new control tower permits a significant improvement in the level of safety at the airport. The tower includes the various dedicated information systems and applications to support the traffic controller.
The systems reside on a complex communication network including redundant data centers and communication infrastructure. The modules are designed to provide maximum control capabilities to the controllers during day-to-day activities and emergency situations.
