http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39960993
I wonder if ground control is also handled by this system.
Sorry I don't like typing long winded responses on my mobile. Just sitting down at a PC this morning with my coffee so here's my thoughts.
First, that system
does handle ground control. "Tower" and "ground" are both handled in the Air Traffic Control Tower. They are visual functions backed up with other tools such as ground radar, but primarily rely on controllers in the tower looking out windows...or in that case, looking at the TV screens simulating windows.
We're entering the second testing cycle with that system at Leesburg airport next month. It's being mirrored by a temporary Air Traffic Tower.
Discovery did a great job taking apart the entire system as well as interviewing controllers. It is an entire episode FYI
https://youtu.be/u0nYEmrq1as?list=PLl7kWN6X98EkrsmRKGRupd-V5F4_daXAjHere's a breakdown, simply put
Tower handles the physical airport and a small radius around the airport that you can visually see
Approach and Departure control are radar functions and handle an area around airports, usually revolving around instrument landings and takeoffs as well as providing traffic advisory services to aircraft operating in congested areas
Center handles instrument flight between airports above the airspace controlled by Approach/Departure
I'm at Potomac Large TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), working the area that handles Dulles Int'l airport, and a large chunk of airspace from Hagerstown WV down to Fredricksburg, VA. We have 4 areas handling IAD, BWI, DCA, and RIC. And it's all done from a site 20 miles SW of IAD...out in the 'burbs.