National Air Traffic System (NATS)

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NATS returns as air traffic service provider at Gatwick Airport

17 October 2022 | By International Airport Review

Across the 8 and 9 October 2022, London Gatwick Airport reappointed NATS, after a six-year break, as the air traffic service provider for the airport.

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NATS implements largest geographical airspace change in UK

9 December 2021 | By International Airport Review

National Air Traffic Systems has launched the largest airspace change in the UK, removing long-established air routes over Scotland and allowing aircraft to choose their most direct flight path.

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Heathrow partners with British Airways to make net-zero flying a reality

16 September 2021 | By International Airport Review

London Heathrow has teamed up with British Airways, Airbus, BP, Glasgow Airport and NATS to pilot a net-zero short flight, powered by sustainable aviation fuel, from Heathrow to Glasgow Airport.

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Schiphol to adopt Intelligent Approach air traffic control system

4 October 2019 | By Rachael Harper (International Airport Review)

An air traffic control system that dynamically separates arrivals by time instead of distance is being deployed at Schiphol.

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NATS records busy August despite strike and weather challenges

24 September 2019 | By International Airport Review

As passenger growth continues on its exponential curve, NATS has recorded a growth in air traffic for August 2019, compared to the same period 12 months ago.

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Sustainability Series: Yet more drone disruption set for Heathrow

13 September 2019 | By Eve De Clerk (International Airport Review)

Labelled 100 per cent safe and 100 per cent illegal, the plight of the drone comes back to haunt Heathrow Airport as more climate activists demand their voices are heard.

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Concerns grow about the impact aviation has on our environment

15 August 2019 | By International Airport Review

According to NATS, improving aviation’s impact on the environment is a growing concern for the flying public with nearly 40 per cent of those surveyed agreeing to an environmental tax.

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NATS secures 10-year contract for air traffic services at Cardiff Airport

16 July 2019 | By International Airport Review

The 10-year contract further strengthens NATS and Cardiff Airport's working relationship, with NATS providing ATC services for MOD St Athans Airport for the first time.

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Air traffic control: Making the best of your assets – a runway package

3 June 2019 | By Bob Graham

The EUROCONTROL ‘Challenges of Growth 2018’ study predicts there will be a lack of capacity at European airports in 2040 preventing around 1.5 million flights from flying. Such a lack of capacity could mean 160 million passengers would not be able to travel with a potential economic loss of around…

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Air traffic control In-Depth Focus: Why does ATM reform matter?

3 June 2019 | By David McMillan | Chair | ATM Policy Institute

David McMillan, Chair of the ATM Policy Institute, says that the development and digitalisiation of the air traffic management industry is a change that has taken a long time to be accepted industry wide, and this ongoing development can only happen with continued liberalisation within the industry.

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UK launches ‘Innovation Sandbox’ to be at forefront of aviation technology

21 May 2019 | By International Airport Review

With projects ranging from air taxis to AI in air traffic control, the UK CAA's 'Innovation Sandbox' plans to keep UK aviation at the forefront of technology.

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NAV CANADA is set to install time-based spacing system at Toronto 

3 May 2019 | By International Airport Review

The same technology NATS used at Heathrow is now being implemented at Toronto Pearson to help improve flight punctuality at the airport.

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Real-time tracking trial begins over the North Atlantic

8 April 2019 | By International Airport Review

For the first time, air traffic controllers now have real-time data on the position of planes anywhere in the world, including previously unsurveilled airspace.

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February figures show that UK air traffic growth continues

22 March 2019 | By International Airport Review

UK ANSP, NATS has released figures which show that February 2019 saw an increase of 2.8 per cent on air traffic in UK airspace from 2018, an additional 4,769 flights in a year.

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Now is the time for a revolution in air traffic service provision

15 March 2019 | By Martin Rolfe

Martin Rolfe, NATS’ Chief Executive Officer, reveals the challenges posed by managing air traffic in today’s world, with rapidly increasing pressure to maximise capacity, resilience and performance in the face of growing demand and customer expectation.