Aviation cannot exist without traffic controllers. Without these wonderful, well-trained people, there would probably have been chaos in heaven.
They have the mission to quickly and safely direct the flow of aircraft, whether they land / take off or are only in transit over certain areas. According to some studies, the job of air traffic control is a very challenging and stressful one.
The highest control towers
Air traffic controllers have to make the best decisions under extreme conditions and depending on many factors: equipment configuration, weather, air traffic volume, depending on what happens on the ground and in the air.
We always find air traffic controllers at their offices located at the highest point of an airport - the control tower (ATC). Depending on the size of the airport and its configuration, the air traffic control tower can have different sizes.
1. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, also recognized as the New Bangkok International Airport has the highest control tower in the world. It measures 132.2 meters (434ft). From here approximately 75 of flights per hour are run on the two runways of the airport: 01R / 19L by 4 260 meters and 01L / 19R by 3 810 meters.
The control tower was built by Siam Syntech-Unique Engineering and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai). Its construction cost 18 millions of dollars and was completed in 2005. From the tower, the air traffic controllers have an 360 degree view over the airport measuring 32.4km2.
2. Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur International Airport is 50 kilometers from the Malaysian capital and has a high control tower of 130 meters (426ft), being the second largest in the world. The control tower is shaped like a torch and approximately 120 of flights per hour are driven from it.
The control tower was built in 1998 and the entire air traffic control system (ATCS) is managed by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), the Ministry of Transport.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport has two parallel runways: 14L / 32R by 4 019 meters and 14R / 32L by 4 000 meters. The airport was designed by Kisho Kurokawa. It is owned by the Malaysian government and operated by Malaysia Airports Berhad.
3. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, United States of America
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, has the third highest control tower in the world and the highest ATC tower in North America. Measure 121.31 meters (398ft) and from it are led about 2500 of arrivals and departures every day.
The tower offers a clear view over the 5 tracks (8L / 26R - 2 meters; 743R / 8L - 26 meters; 3L / 048R - 9 meters; 27R / 3L - 776 meters; 9/27 - 2 meters) and the entire airport. The tower was built with a $ 743 million investment and opened in 10.
The construction was funded by the city of Atlanta ($ 39.4 million), while the $ 4.8 million was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the installation of equipment, power systems, furniture and workstations.
4. Haneda / Tokyo International Airport, Japan
The new control tower of the Tokyo-Haneda International Airport was inaugurated in January 2010 and has a height of 115.7 meters (380ft), which makes him fourth in the world in height. The new tower is 38 meters higher than the old tower and it was necessary to build it for the new 2500 meters track located 4 kilometers away from the old tower.
The new control tower cost $ 80 million and is equipped with the latest anti-earthquake technology. It offers an overview of the 4 runways of the airport (16R / 34L - 3 meters; 000L / 16R - 34 meters; 3/000 - 04 meters; 22/2 - 500 meters). The old tower is used as an emergency backup.
5. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China
Located in southern China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has the world's fifth tallest control tower. With a height of 110 meters (361ft), the ATC tower is also the tallest in China. It offers a very good visibility of the entire 15km2 area of the airport and of the two runways (02L / 20R - 3 meters; 600R / 02L - 20 meters).
The control tower cost 8,769 million dollars and was inaugurated in 2003, one year before the airport was opened. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the main hub for China Southern Airlines.
6. Cairo International Airport, Egypt
The sixth tallest tower in the world is located at Cairo International Airport, Egypt. It is 110 meters (361ft) high. The tower was built to serve the third runway parallel to the airport's two existing runways (05L / 23R - 3 meters; 300C / 05C - 23 meters; 4R / 000L - 05 meters).
The airport of Cairo operates 45 of air carriers of passengers and 9 of cargo. In 2012, Cairo International Airport was transacted by 14.8 million passengers.
7. Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates
The seventh highest control tower is located at Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates. It has a height of 109 meters (358ft) and consists of a 20-storey building. It is positioned between the 2 tracks (13R / 31L - 4 100; 13L / 31R - 4 100). The tower was inaugurated in 2011 and is part of the airport development project. The airport's capacity could increase to 27 million passengers by 2017 and up to 40 million passengers by 2030.
8. Vienna International Airport, Austria
The control tower of Vienna International Airport measures 109 meters (358ft) and is ranked 8th globally. It offers a very good view of the two runways of the airport (11L / 29R - 3 meters; 500/16 - 34 meters).
9. Indianapolis International Airport, United States of America
The 9 tallest control tower is on Indianapolis International Airport, United States of America. It was inaugurated in 2006 and has a height of 106.07 meters (348ft). The construction of the tower cost 32 millions of dollars and is also the second highest ATC tower in the United States.
The airport has 3 runways (5L / 23R - 3 meters; 414R / 5L - 23 meters; 3/048 - 14 meters), and the control tower offers a 32 degree view of the 2 runways and the airport.
10. Orlando International Airport, United States of America
The 10 tower in our standings is located at Orlando International Airport, United States of America. It has a height of 105.16 meters (345ft) and was inaugurated in 2002, being the 3 as the height in the USA.
The tower was built by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and cost $ 28.7 million, with funding from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
The airport is owned and operated by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and operates 802 daily flights - landings / takeoffs.
As you can see, four of the world's tallest towers (ATC) are in Asia, while the United States (USA) has three. Thailand has the highest ATC tower in the world.
The Henri Coandă Bucharest International Airport tower is not in the top 10, but it is one of the most modern in Europe, benefiting from a high-performance simulator where you can prepare the traffic controllers, as well as the latest generation equipment needed to direct the air traffic. Officially we could not find information about its size, but we estimate a height of 30-36 meters!