Tower fails – Ferihegy airport closed UFN – Why was there no contingency tower?

Ferihegy aerodrome controllers have to sit for a recurrent examination every spring. Preparation for the test takes the form of studying a set of questions for which multi-choice answers are provided. One of the questions and the correct answer has suddenly taken on new significance…
Here is the question:
“In case of an unforeseen catastrophic event which results in the control tower no longer being able to provide an air traffic service, which other location shall be used to provide such service?
Select the correct answer!
a. From the off-line working position of the Budapest ATS Center.
b. From one of the FIC working positions of the Budapest ATS Center, dedicated to this task.
c. From the tower near Entrance B at the old terminal building (Terminal 1).
d. No such place exists, since it is not possible to transfer the air traffic service to any alternative location.
The correct answer is the fourth, d.
A while back there was talk about the possibility of creating a contingency tower in the old tower structure atop Terminal 1, but for some reason this was not supported by management, in spite of the low cost involved.
We can only guess at the reasons why we do not have circumstances where answer c could be the correct one.
I think I am probably right in thinking that the root cause is to be found in the situation that arose when the Air Traffic and Airport Administration (LRI) was split. Since that time, Budapest Airport and Hungarocontrol seem to be concerned with each other much more than looking after developing the airport itself. As far as I know, Hungarocontrol pays hefty sums for renting the new tower from the airport and in this situation they are obviously not too keen on re-activating the old tower in a contingency role. Instead, not long ago the virtual tower project was started up in which, similar to the way we train in the simulator, one could actually control aircraft on the field from any location, even off the airport grounds. This way we could even withdraw from the double-legged monster and save the rent…

Of course life does not stop and until we have the virtual tower, we must accept answer d…
Life being what it is, to-day the thing we always thought would never happen, did happen. On 7 December 2012 at noon Ferihegy airport had to close because the control tower became inoperative. According to the news, a “heating pipe broke in the tower and this damaged the electrical system. Consequently the radio communications, IT and other control units were rendered unusable.”
So, the tower is off the playing field. No service is possible and how long it will take to repair things is still uncertain. No doubt an investigation will follow and knowing ourselves, the person responsible will be sought amongst the rank and file… like it happened after the evening storm on August the 20th. Let’s hope the cleaning lady will escape being the scapegoat.
Doubtless the virtual tower project will now speed up, to the great joy of its instigators. But my mind keeps coming back to the very simple question… Had answer c been the correct one with the old tower jumping in as the contingency service location, we would have had a good deal less damage to our poor airport and also the national economy…