ATC towers in Broome and Karratha to open

A file image of the since refurbished Karratha ATC tower.

Airservices Australia is opening air traffic control towers in the Western Australian northwest centres of Broome and Karratha this week to cope with the significant growth in aircraft movements to the two key regional airports.

From November 18 Airservices controllers will start providing ATC services from Karratha’s existing but refurbished air traffic control tower (it was originally decommissioned 15 years ago) and a temporary control tower at Broome while a new tower is constructed there.

Airservices says seven air traffic controllers are being based at Broome to work across three shifts, with five to work across two shifts at Karratha. Both towers will operate seven days a week.

Construction of a combined air traffic control tower and aviation rescue and fire fighting station for Broome has begun, with completion scheduled for mid 2011.