Air traffi c management 12,000t
The amount of CO2 reduction per year due to FRA over the north of the UK.
NATS 3,500
The number of family homes this reduction would be equivalent to, with regard to CO2
emissions. NATS
need to know where aircraft are and where they are headed. So, when one group are looking to make changes to their part of the operation, the entire system needs to adapt around that change. “We have a different system to the Irish, to the Danish, and there are different systems across Europe,” says Boulton. However, all stakeholders need to be able to transfer data in a standard way from one air traffic control system to another – which they do through the On-line Data Interchange. NATS had to find a way to adapt the interfaces between all these systems so that it could register and reflect FRA operations, rather than just the traditional set flight paths.
Safety first
There were plenty of other challenges during the FRA’s development, of course – with a change this wide-ranging and fundamental, maintaining operational safety was of the utmost importance. That can take time – controllers and support staff need to be retrained, and NATS also had to work with airlines, Eurocontrol and other ANSPs to ensure all stakeholders were up to speed. And, before any of this, NATS had to devise the rules to govern FRA and run simulations to ensure the new procedures could be safely implemented by its air traffic controllers.
Similarly, the pandemic was a significant challenge, emerging late in FRA’s development. December 2021 was the original timeline for deploying FRA, and NATS worked hard to maintain the course in the face of pandemic regulations and restrictions. To overcome some of these obstacles, NATS found ways to allow controllers to work at a distance from one another – 137 controllers were able to go through simulation training during the height of Covid regulations. A further 425 later received briefings at Prestwick centre, where FRA was deployed, or at the London Area Control Centre (LACC) in Swanwick. Ultimately, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved NATS’ airspace change proposal, which was a huge win for Boulton and his colleagues. FRA was successfully implemented on 21 December 2021, as planned. Work remains to be done as the introduction of the other phases of the UK’s FRA will coincide with the widespread resumption of air travel – the UK expects to see 90% of 2019 local traffic levels in 2022. Looking ahead, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects overall traveller numbers to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2024, highlighting the environmental and operations benefits that FRA can provide. Managing the recovery alongside the upcoming FRA deployments will be a challenge for NATS, but one it is working hard to achieve. ●
Always in Control
With crystal clear audio, robust design, and all-day comfort
Established upon the former successful joint venture between audio specialist Sennheiser and the world-leading hearing technology group Demant, EPOS designs, manufactures and sells pioneering high-end audio and video solutions for business professionals, ATC/C3 and serious gamers.
The EPOS COMMAND Line of premium headsets is designed for reliable operational excellence in ATC and C3 communications. Enable your professional performance with complete clarity and precision in audio and speech. With a focus on lasting user comfort, security and customization, this line of high-performance audio solutions enables ATC and C3 professionals to take control when it counts.
Scan the QR-code to find the right
solution for your ATC/C3 environment on the COMMAND website.
20
908269450 COMMAND_print
AD_178x124.indd 1
Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com 03.06.2022 16.45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
