Twenty-five years ago, DFS, the German air navigation service provider, opened the new control tower at Hannover Airport to be prepared for the increased traffic volumes expected for EXPO 2000. The airport in the capital of Lower Saxony was the first airport in Germany to be equipped with the uniform tower model.
On 2 December 1999, 20 air traffic controllers moved into the new tower with an improved view of the runways to monitor traffic at the airport and the airspace immediately surrounding it. It replaced the old control tower from 1966, which no longer met requirements. The tower was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a ground radar, an improved weather information system and a new air situation display. At 65 metres, it is currently the fifth tallest tower of the 15 designated international airports in Germany after Düsseldorf, Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt.
This Tower of the Future was the winner of an architectural competition. Following its premiere in Hannover, this icon of DFS design was also put into operation at Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Berlin airports. The high level of standardisation across these sites has reduced costs and planning times.
"Over the past 25 years, DFS employees at the Hannover tower have issued almost two million take-off and landing clearances and brought around 125 million passengers safely to their destinations and back home again," said DFS Head of Tower Hans Niebergall proudly. Guests included US President Barack Obama, who opened the Hannover Messe trade fair in 2016, as well as Madonna, Ariana Grande, Alexander Gerst and numerous national football teams.
To cope with the increasing volume of air traffic, DFS has repeatedly invested in its navigation and radar infrastructure and voice communication systems. "This has enabled us to handle traffic at Hannover Airport in a safe, orderly and expeditious manner at all times over the past quarter of a century, and we are well equipped for the future," said Niebergall.
DFS employs 42 people at the site, 31 of whom are air traffic controllers. Three air traffic controllers are usually on duty in the tower cab: one ground controller for controlling taxiing traffic and one aerodrome controller for air traffic on the runways and in neighbouring airspace. An assistant supports the aerodrome controller. Two airport employees from apron control also sit in the tower cab, assigning aircraft to their parking positions.
Media contact:
Anja Naumann
Telephone: +49 (0)6103 / 5372-116
E-mail: presse@dfs.de
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with 5,700 employees as at 30 June 2024. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary, DFS Aviation Services GmbH, markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the United Kingdom. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.