This is Sydney’s newest air traffic control tower. Those watching are 17 kilometres away

When they’re turned on, these cameras and screens will control all planes landing at Western Sydney International Airport.

It will be the first airport in Australia without a traditional air traffic control tower. Instead, a tower affixed with 25 high-resolution cameras that feed a control room 17 kilometres away, tucked into a data centre in Eastern Creek, will control the traffic.

The control room, called the Digital Aerodrome Service, is in a nondescript office with no indication from outside that it will control the new airport’s expected 200 daily flights.

At the first tour of the facility, federal Minister for Transport Catherine King was keen to emphasise passenger safety would not be compromised by the approach. Asked how the set-up compares with Sydney Airport, King said it “might look different, but the safety will be exactly the same”.

“From a customer’s perspective, you won’t experience anything different. In fact, this will increase the functionality of the airport, hopefully meaning there are less delays. But from a safety perspective, it will be the same.”

She added that the digital-first approach was not unique to western Sydney’s airport as international airports elsewhere had implemented the system.

“It is already functioning in overseas countries, in the US, in London, for example, and in Germany as well, all using digital aerodrome centres. And now this will be the first one in Australia.”

So far, more than 10 airports across five countries are using the technology, with London City Airport’s implementation acting as a benchmark for its rollout in western Sydney.

The centre’s main control room is deep in the massive CDC data centre at Eastern Creek, with which Airservices Australia has a long-term lease.

Beyond a recreation room and office space, the main control room is fitted with four adjustable consoles surrounded by an enormous array of monitors.

The sheer number of screens available to each air traffic controller on shift is meant to be one of the benefits of the shift away from having them physically able to see planes taking off.

A 360-degree live feed of the aerodrome will be delivered to the screens as well as specialised information such as object-tracking, night vision and image enhancement. Infrared cameras will allow controllers to see clearly at night or during periods of low visibility.

The set-up will include the sound from the runway and feed the controllers as much information as possible, including altitudes, call signs and any other operational data they need.

Back-up measures are baked into the set-up as all critical systems are designed with multiple redundancy measures such as back-up power and communication sources.

It all comes together to form a high-tech alternative to a previously tried and tested approach to air traffic control.

When asked why the decision was made to shift from a traditional air traffic control set-up, chief aerodrome officer Michelle Petersen said it was about being “just as safe, but also providing new tools that we don’t currently have access to”.

“Safety is the core of everything we do. I don’t think one is safer than the other. One enriches the environment through the integration, but all of our systems and all of our aerodrome control approaches are safe,” she said.

The Sydney Morning Herald has opened a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.