Two projects delivered in under 24 hours at Glasgow Airport

2024 has been a busy year for NATS at Glasgow Airport – as well as safely managing the day-job the team have been instrumental in the delivery of three brand new systems.
During the Spring an impressive 3D simulator was built, configured, assured, and then put to good use alongside similar new systems at Aberdeen and Southampton airports. This was then followed by two new systems entering operational service within 24 hours in early November.

On Monday the 4 November at 14:35 the new Surface Movement Radar (SMR) completed its transition into full operational use by the controllers in the Visual Control Room.
13 hours later, at 0338 on the 5 November, a replacement Electronic Flight Progress Strips (EFPS) system also completed its transition into full operational service, succeeding against a tight timescale.

These two smooth and safe operational transitions were the product of many months of planning, preparation, and assurance by teams across NATS – Supply Chain, Project and Programme Management, Surveillance and EFPS Systems Engineering, Safeguarding, Human Factors, Facilities Management and Safety, working closely with the Glasgow Engineers, controllers and Operational Support Staff.

Left: The team with the new surface movement radar. Right: Airport Operational Engineer, and Senior Engineer, secured to the top of the tower, while Senior Systems Engineer, and Systems Engineer, kept things moving on the ground.

The SMR is securely located airside away from any terminals, so passengers and pedestrians were not a major hazard. There is however a nearby taxiway, perimeter roadway and two busy flying clubs to consider, not to mention ad-hoc visits from airfield ops and security patrolling the area.

Once the new SMR system was in place and configured it was time for engineering training and optimisation of the picture that the controllers will use 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year for 15 years or more.

Micronav 3D Simulator with new EFPS installed.

The SMR supports controllers by providing non-cooperative surveillance information for all aircraft and vehicles on the runway, taxiways and line-of-sight apron areas. It also enables an important safety net within the Radar Data Processor – Runway Incursion Monitoring and Conflict Alert System (RIMCAS). RIMCAS uses this SMR data to monitor aircraft and vehicles while on or near the runway. If a potential runway confliction is predicted (e.g. an aircraft or vehicle entering a runway while a landing aircraft is within a certain distance from the same runway) then visual and audible alerts are activated.

The EFPS replacement includes new hardware and software in the operational areas, Tower and Approach, but also the tower’s training simulator. Glasgow has transitioned to larger monitors, a new operating system, and an updated adaptation design, all bring improved resilience and design changes requested by the Unit. The new EFPS perfectly complements the 3D simulator mentioned above providing an immersive training experience for new and existing controllers.

This huge achievement could never have succeeded without the hard work and coordination of all the teams involved and is a testament to the skill of our engineers too.