Remote Digital Tower (RDT) technology is no longer just a theoretical concept but a rapidly evolving global reality. The Scandinavian countries are the primary leaders in its implementation—for example, in Norway, a single centralized center in Bodø manages traffic for 14 airports simultaneously, and in Sweden, the world's first airport built entirely without a conventional tower successfully operates. However, RDT systems are also taking control at major transport hubs such as London City Airport, in Germany, and in neighboring Vienna. RDTs represent the clear future of aviation because they eliminate the physical and economic constraints of traditional concrete structures. By combining the principles of augmented reality, panoramic 4K cameras, night vision, and advanced artificial intelligence for obstacle detection, they provide controllers with significantly better situational awareness, especially at night or in dense fog. Furthermore, centralizing the management of multiple airports from a single location brings immense flexibility in personnel deployment and dramatically reduces infrastructure costs, making it possible to maintain the highest safety standards even at smaller regional airports.

In a strategic partnership with the Slovak company iBross, the Faculty of Aeronautics at the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) officially opened a new research, development, and training center for remote digital control towers (Remote Digital Tower – RDT Center) today.
This state-of-the-art facility represents a major milestone in the digitalization of air traffic management. The center will serve as a unique platform for applied research, the development of intelligent cyber-physical systems, and advanced simulation training for the next generation of air traffic controllers. On this occasion, key project representatives outlined what the new center will bring to both academia and the aviation industry.

Statement by the Rector of the Technical University of Košice (TUKE):
"The opening of the RDT Center is clear proof that the Faculty of Aeronautics at our university is shaping a modern innovation ecosystem in Slovakia. The effective connection between academic research and industrial practice allows us to generate high-value technological solutions with European potential. For our university, this means reinforcing our position as a leader in technology transfer and providing top-tier infrastructure for our scientists and students."

Statement by the Dean of the Faculty of Aeronautics (LF TUKE):
"For our faculty, this simulation center represents a massive leap forward. Aviation is undergoing a massive digitalization process, and the transition to remote airport management is today's reality. Thanks to this center, we can train students using modern system architectures that they will encounter in the real-world practice of modern airports. At the same time, we gain a unique foundation for advanced applied research and crisis scenario testing in a safe simulation environment."

Statement by the Founder of iBross:
"We are delighted that we could help the Faculty of Aeronautics build the tower simulator and the remote digital tower, and that our cooperation, which began back in 1990, continues to thrive. Our company was originally founded in late 1991 by former members of the Military Aviation Academy—specifically the personnel of the flight support equipment (RTZ) department. I would like to mention Professor Laur, as well as Mr. Kacvinský and Mr. Haupt, and acknowledge their contribution to modernizing the Czecho-Slovak air traffic control system. We delivered the first simulator to the former aviation academy back in 1993. The collaboration with the Faculty of Aeronautics has allowed us to merge commercial development with top-tier scientific expertise. For us, the RDT Center is not just a training room, but a living laboratory. Together, we will develop and validate system scalability, AI integration for visual object detection, and data transmission security. We are proud that Slovak engineering prowess, in cooperation with TUKE, delivers solutions that can contribute to increasing the safety and efficiency of air traffic management not only in Slovakia but across all continents worldwide where our company operates."