Norway's remote tower in Bodo has carried out its first approach and landing guidance for a passenger service, an aircraft arriving at the Arctic airport of Rost.

Norway's remote tower in Bodo has carried out its first approach and landing guidance for a passenger service, an aircraft arriving at the Arctic airport of Rost.

Air navigation service Avinor is rolling out a broad remote tower network, which will oversee 15 airports by 2022 from a centre in Bodo due to open in the second half of next year.

The achievement at Rost is part of a test phase of the technology.

"Remote-towers technology is an important capability enabling a sustainable aviation service in the rural areas of Norway, many of which are in the Arctic," says Avinor chief Dag Falk-Petersen.

The approach and landing was conducted on 19 October.

"While we are still technically in a test mode, the first commercial passenger flight completed marks an important milestone for us," says Avinor remote towers project director Jan Ostby.

"We had good contact and visuals with the aircraft during the entire approach and landing. The remote tower system functioned optimally in this operation."

Rost is served by Norwegian regional carrier Wideroe, which uses Bombardier turboprops on the route.

Avinor's system has been developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Indra Navia.