A camera quality problem at Sydney’s Western Sydney International Airport is forcing air traffic controllers to maintain larger separation between landing aircraft, at least 15 nautical miles, due to unclear images from cameras located 17 kilometers away.

This airport is the first in Australia to operate without a traditional control tower, instead using a digital remote tower system that Airservices Australia and CASA describe as being rolled out through a phased, safety-first process.

There is growing concern about delays as passenger flights ramp up later in the year, but officials say the remote-tower system is designed to safely handle the forecast increase in traffic.

Western Sydney Airport has begun cargo operations and is preparing for passenger services starting on October 25 with Jetstar, with international flights from Auckland and other carriers scheduled for later months, including Singapore Airlines and VietJet.

Visual separation is banned at the Western Sydney site because camera images are not clear enough for safe distancing, unlike conventional towers where visual spacing can be assessed with binoculars or direct sightlines.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia acknowledge the digital system’s novelty and have not planned changes to camera setups until safety can be assured, with regulatory approvals secured for phased operations.

Poor camera visibility means aircraft farther from the runway appear poorly on screens, reducing operational efficiency and potentially creating seven-minute gaps between landings, significantly limiting airport capacity compared with traditional towers.