This study aims to develop a mathematical model to determine the best location of tower centers that will provide remote control of airports with a low number of flights. The proposed mathematical model has been developed based on hub location problems.
In the determination of low-density airports, considering the effect of the pandemic period on the number of flights between 2019–2021, 2018 and before statistical data published by the State Airports Authority were used. A total of 30 remote tower candidate centers were determined and an objective function was used for a minimum number of remote tower centers to control a maximum of two or three airports. The developed mathematical model was coded with the GAMS IDE 36 software and solved with the CPLEX solver.
The optimum remote tower center location and number were determined among the airport groups.
Although it was seen in the detailed literature review on remote tower control that simulation-based studies were carried out by some organizations, no academic study based on mathematical modeling was found related to the determination of candidate locations for tower centers and the selection of the best location. In this context, it is anticipated that the proposed mathematical modeling approach would be a valuable contribution to the literature.
