La tour de contrôle d'Orly, le centre névralgique de l'aéroport

Summary

Orly Airport's control tower, handling 700 takeoffs and landings daily, underwent a critical renovation in November 2017. The challenge was to modernize the 50-meter high tower without disrupting air traffic. A temporary control room was created below the existing one to maintain operations during the upgrade. The renovation included replacing small windows with large glass panels to enhance controllers' visibility and installing soundproof ceilings for better communication and concentration. The project also integrated state-of-the-art technology, digitized workstations, and used virtual reality to test the new environment, ensuring a seamless transition to a more efficient air traffic control system.

Takeaways

• 🛫 The control tower at Orly Airport handles 700 landings and takeoffs daily, making it a critical hub for airport operations.
• 🔧 The control tower, like an airport terminal, ages and requires regular renovation and modernization to keep up with technological advancements.
• 🏗️ A complete redesign was necessary for the 50-meter tall control tower, which had been in use since the 1960s.
• ⏱️ In November 2017, the airport underwent a sensitive period to modernize the control tower without disrupting air traffic.
• 🚧 A temporary control room was created one floor below to continue operations during the renovation.
• 🛠️ The exterior of the control tower was modified to create glazed spaces below the observation deck, increasing the controllers' field of vision.
• 🔄 The most significant challenge was to switch all radar, GPS, and radio systems without affecting air traffic control.
• 🛂 Ensuring safety, continuity, and regularity of flights was paramount, with no room for error during the transition.
• 🔧 The renovation process involved complex technical, temporal, and logistical constraints, including moving 30 tons of materials to a height of 45 meters.
• 🎧 New soundproof ceilings were installed to improve working comfort for controllers and reduce reverberation, enhancing communication safety with aircraft.
• 💻 Digital workstations were created to manage all flight data, including identification, trajectory, altitude, and origin, preparing for more integrated air traffic control systems.

Q & A

How many takeoffs and landings does Orly Airport handle daily?

Orly Airport handles 700 takeoffs and landings daily.

What is the significance of the control tower at Orly Airport?

The control tower is the nerve center of Orly Airport, essential for securing air traffic without which the airport would close down.

Why does the control tower at Orly need renovation?

The control tower, like an airport terminal, ages and requires regular renewal and modernization of its equipment.

What was the challenge faced during the renovation of the control tower in November 2017?

The challenge was to modernize the control tower without affecting air traffic.

What is the term used for the observation area in the control tower?

The observation area in the control tower is referred to as 'la vigie' in the jargon.

Why was it necessary to create a temporary control room during the renovation?

To avoid interrupting airport activity, a temporary control room was needed to be set up one floor below the main control room.

What changes were made to the exterior of the control tower to accommodate the temporary control room?

The exterior of the control tower had to be modified to create glazed spaces at the levels below the 'vigie' by replacing old portholes with large glazed windows.

What was the main difficulty in the renovation process?

The main difficulty was switching all the radar, GPS, and radio systems without affecting air traffic control.

How was the transition to the new control systems managed without disrupting air traffic?

The transition was managed through several nights of testing and adjustments to ensure the safety, continuity, and regularity of flights.

What were the technical challenges faced during the renovation?

The technical challenges included dealing with constraints in a small space, managing technical, temporal, and realization constraints, and safely handling the transportation of 30 tons of materials to a height of 45 meters.

How did the renovation improve the working conditions for air traffic controllers?

The renovation included installing soundproof ceilings to reduce reverberation, creating new digital workstations for handling flight data, and improving the overall safety and concentration of controllers through better sound management.

What technology was used by engineers to optimize the renovation process?

Engineers used virtual reality technology, similar to that used in video games, to model the entire 'vigie' digitally and allow controllers to test their future work environment.

Outlines

00:00

🛫 Modernizing Orly Airport's Control Tower

The script details the challenges and processes involved in modernizing the control tower at Orly Airport, which handles 700 takeoffs and landings daily. The control tower is a critical hub for the airport's operations, and any malfunction can lead to the airport's closure. The tower, likened to an aging aérogare, requires regular updates and modernization. The script describes the need to redesign the 50-meter high tower with its distinctive shape, and the sensitive operation of modernizing it without disrupting air traffic. A temporary control room is set up on a lower floor to continue operations during the renovation. The script also discusses the technical difficulties of transitioning radar, GPS, and radio systems without affecting air traffic control, emphasizing the importance of safety and continuity in flight operations. The renovation includes creating new glass spaces on the levels below the observation deck to increase the controllers' field of vision and installing soundproof ceilings to improve working conditions. The new control room is equipped with digital workstations to manage flight data more efficiently. The script highlights the use of virtual reality technology to prepare controllers for their new work environment and to ensure a smooth transition to integrated air traffic control systems.

Keywords

💡Control Tower

A control tower is a tall structure at an airport where air traffic controllers work to manage the flow of aircraft safely and efficiently. In the video, the control tower at Orly airport is described as the 'nerve center' with 700 takeoffs and landings daily, emphasizing its crucial role in airport operations.

💡Aerogare

The term 'aérogare' is used metaphorically to compare the control tower to an airport terminal, highlighting that like an airport terminal, a control tower also ages and requires regular renovation and modernization to keep up with technological advancements and operational demands.

💡Radar Systems

Radar systems are critical for air traffic control, providing real-time information about the position and speed of aircraft. The script mentions the challenge of switching over to new radar systems without disrupting air traffic control, indicating the complexity of integrating modern technology into existing operations.

💡GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides accurate location and time information. In the context of the video, GPS is part of the technology upgrade within the control tower, essential for tracking aircraft movements and enhancing the safety and efficiency of air traffic management.

💡Provisional Control Room

To facilitate the renovation of the control tower without halting airport operations, a 'provisional control room' is created one floor below the existing one. This temporary setup allows for the continuation of air traffic control services while the main control room is being upgraded.

💡Vigie

In air traffic control jargon, 'vigie' refers to the observation deck or watch room from which controllers monitor air traffic. The video describes the transformation of the 'vigie' at Orly's control tower, including the replacement of windows with larger glass panels to improve the controllers' field of vision.

💡Technical Constraints

The video highlights the 'technical constraints' faced during the renovation, such as the need to ensure the safety of air traffic control operations while upgrading systems and equipment. This term encapsulates the challenges of integrating new technology without compromising the integrity of existing operations.

💡Modernization

Modernization in the context of the video refers to the process of updating the control tower's infrastructure and systems to meet current and future operational needs. This includes the installation of new technology, such as digital workstations and soundproof ceilings, to improve the working environment and efficiency of air traffic controllers.

💡Digital Workstations

Digital workstations are introduced as part of the modernization efforts, replacing older, analog systems. These workstations are designed to handle all flight data digitally, from identification and trajectory to altitude and origin, streamlining the control process and enhancing the controllers' ability to manage air traffic.

💡Virtual Technology

The use of 'virtual technology,' similar to that used in video games, is mentioned as a tool for engineers to simulate the new control environment. This technology allowed controllers to familiarize themselves with the new setup and identify potential issues before the actual renovation, ensuring a smoother transition to the updated control tower.

💡Safety and Efficiency

Throughout the script, the themes of 'safety' and 'efficiency' are central to the renovation project. The upgrades to the control tower aim to improve both by reducing noise reverberation, enhancing communication clarity between controllers and aircraft, and introducing integrated systems that digitize flight information from the outset, all contributing to a safer and more efficient air traffic control process.

Highlights

Orly airport's control tower manages 700 landings and takeoffs daily, making it a critical hub.

Any malfunction in the tower could shut down the entire airport.

The control tower, like an airport terminal, ages and requires regular renovation and modernization.

Orly's 50-meter tall control tower, with its distinctive shape, needed a complete rethink.

In November 2017, the airport underwent one of its most sensitive periods due to the tower's modernization.

The challenge was to modernize the control tower without affecting air traffic.

The control room, active since the 1960s, needed to be updated without interrupting airport operations.

A temporary control room was created one floor below to maintain operations during renovation.

The exterior of the control tower was modified to create glassed-in spaces under the observation deck.

Old portholes were replaced with large bay windows to enhance the air traffic controllers' field of vision.

The biggest challenge was switching all radar, GPS, and radio systems without disrupting air traffic control.

Ensuring safety, continuity, and regularity of flights was critical during the transition.

After several nights of testing and adjustments, the transition was successfully executed.

The renovation began on the now-obsolete control room above the temporary observation deck.

The construction site operated 24/7, taking full advantage of Orly's closure from 23:30 to 6:00 AM.

The project was complex due to the convergence of technical, temporal, and access constraints in a small space.

The challenge was to lift 30 tons of materials to a height of 45 meters and remove the same amount.

The renovation had to ensure air traffic safety without any risk of cutting crucial radio cables.

The renovated observation deck integrated modern technology, including soundproof ceilings for controller comfort.

New digital workstations were created to handle all flight data, improving safety and efficiency.

Engineers used virtual reality technology, similar to video games, to optimize the renovation.

Controllers tested their future work environment using 3D modeling and virtual reality.

Transcripts

Avec 700 atterrissages et décollages par jour,

la tour de contrôle est le centre névralgique d'Orly.

Au moindre dysfonctionnement, c'est l'aéroport qui ferme.

Impossible sans elle de sécuriser le trafic aérien.

- Une tour de contrôle, c'est comme une aérogare, ça vieillit.

Les équipements à l'intérieur de la tour ont besoin d'être régulièrement rénovés, modernisés.

50 mètres de haut et une forme reconnaissable entre toutes,

la tour de contrôle d'Orly avait besoin d'être intégralement repensée.

En novembre 2017, l'aéroport va vivre une des périodes les plus sensibles de son existence.

Car comment moderniser la tour de contrôle sans affecter le trafic ?

Voici l'espace à rénover.

Depuis les années 60, c'est ici que les contrôleurs visualisent le ballet aérien.

50 mètres, carré ultra bruyant, entouré d'une immense baie vitrée

que l'on appelle dans le jargon la vigie.

Pour ne pas interrompre l'activité de l'aéroport,

il faut créer une salle de contrôle provisoire un étage plus bas.

Problème l'espace n'est pas adapté.

- Il a fallu modifier l'aspect extérieur de la tour de contrôle

pour créer des espaces vitrés aux niveaux qui se trouvent sous la vigie.

Rapidement, les anciens hublots sont remplacés par des grandes baies vitrées

afin d'augmenter le champ de vision des contrôleurs aériens.

Mais la plus grande difficulté est de basculer l'intégralité des systèmes radar,

GPS et radio sans que le contrôle aérien en pâtisse.

- Réaliser un tel basculement, on peut se dire il n'y a qu'à débrancher, rebrancher,

c'est plus complexe que ça car il faut pouvoir garantir la sécurité.

Il faut pouvoir aussi garantir la continuité et la régularité des vols.

On ne peut pas se permettre le matin à 6 h dire ça ne marche pas, on n'ouvre pas.

Après plusieurs nuits de tests et d'aménagements,

le basculement est réalisé et les contrôleurs s'installent dans cette vigie provisoire.

À l'étage du dessus, peut démarrer la rénovation de la salle de contrôle devenue obsolète.

Un chantier de jour comme de nuit, profitant au maximum de la fermeture d'Orly

de 23 h 30 à 6 h du matin.

- Ça a été un chantier complexe car il y avait toutes les contraintes réunies

dans un petit espace.

- Il y avait des contraintes techniques, des contraintes temporelles, de réalisation,

des contraintes d'accès car il a fallu monter 30 tonnes de matériaux à 45 mètres de haut

et pouvoir en évacuer autant.

Le tour de force est d'autant plus grand que le chantier ne doit pas

mettre en péril la sécurité aérienne.

- Une de nos principales craintes était de couper un de ces câbles radio

qui sont très importants pour nous.

Si ces câbles avaient été coupés, ça aurait pu compromettre

l'ouverture du terrain le matin à 6 h.

Durant quatre mois, la vigie fait peau neuve et intègre toute la technologie moderne,

à commencer par des plafonds isolant phonique qui sont installés

pour offrir aux contrôleurs plus de confort de travail.

Dans l'ancienne vigie, il y avait beaucoup de réverbération

et les contrôleurs s'entendaient les uns les autres.

Avec la nouvelle vigie, nous avons maîtrisé les flux sonores.

En conséquence, la sécurité des échanges avec les avions est bien meilleure

puisqu'il n'y a pas de risque de perturbation les uns avec les autres

et ça améliore la concentration.

De nouveaux postes de travail sont créés, entièrement numérisés,

ils permettront de traiter la totalité des données d'un vol, identification des appareils,

trajectoire, altitude ou provenance.

L'objectif était de pouvoir doter les contrôleurs d'un espace de travail

plus adapté aux nouveaux besoins et puis se préparer à l'arrivée des nouveaux systèmes

du contrôle aérien par un système plus intégré qui va permettre de numériser

dès le début de la vie du vol l'ensemble des informations.

Pour optimiser cette rénovation, les ingénieurs ont utilisé une technologie virtuelle,

la même que celle des jeux vidéo.

Chaque contrôleur a ainsi pu tester son futur environnement de travail.

On a modélisé numériquement toute la vigie avec des casques 3D.

On a immergé les contrôleurs le plus tôt possible dans leur futur environnement de travail

et détecter en amont s'il y avait des points qui pouvaient poser problème

et les corriger très tôt.