The biggest change in Gatwick air traffic control for a generation

Today we delivered the biggest change to Gatwick air traffic control for decades, with the introduction of a second ground movement controller (GMC) position in the tower.

To the untrained ear, that might not sound like huge news, but not only has it been a massive amount of work for the team here – working hand in glove with Gatwick Airport itself and other teams across NATS – but it’s also hugely significant in terms of what it means for the airport, both today and looking to the future.

The Journey

One of the priorities when NATS returned as the air traffic service provider here in 2022 was to work with Gatwick to support their strategic vision for growth and an enhanced passenger experience.

Our first major delivery was last year when we became the first single runway airport in the world to introduce Intelligent Approach ‘Advanced Mixed Mode’ to help boost the throughput of what was already the most efficient strip of concrete anywhere in the industry.

Now, by investing in a second Ground Movement Controller position, we’re aiming to boost both the efficiency and capacity of today’s ground operation and be ready to enable the future growth the airport expects with the approval to bring both runways into operational use.

Training in the Gatwick simulator with the new ground map for the two GMC positions

For those that might not know, in a control tower’s visual control room (VCR) each controller performs a different task. The AIR controller’s job it is to look after the runway – clearing arrivals to land and departures for take-off, the GMC controller manages the flow of aircraft taxiing around the airfield, and the Ground Movement Planner (GMP) controller manages the aircraft on stand prior to being ready to push back. Each controller is qualified to fulfil all these roles and will rotate around the positions during a shift.

Up until today, Gatwick has been the busiest airport in the UK to operate with only one GMC position. It’s a complex and demanding job covering the entire footprint of the airfield, and the change we’ve made essentially cuts the airfield in two.

This hasn’t been a case of simply moving an extra chair into the tower. Today is the culmination of years of work. From designing the concept of how to divide up the ground area, developing the new procedures, identifying and deploying system and technology upgrades to enable it, designing and then delivering the biggest training programme we have ever undertaken. Working with Gatwick Airport to create new holding points on the airfield with new airfield signage, and a huge community engagement programme to make sure the airlines and ground handlers are ready for the change too.

What does all this mean for Gatwick?

The one GMC position was at times becoming a bottleneck. The amount of RT (Radiotelephony) and the workload associated with controlling all aircraft moving around the ground was reaching the limits of what one person could do. Splitting this into two positions means we can handle more aircraft overall and can provide the best possible service to aircraft and passengers using Gatwick.

I’m incredibly proud of the team and grateful for all the fantastic support we’ve had to get to this point – it’s been another prime example of collaboration and how our industry constantly strives to improve what we do every day.

Today is a significant milestone in the history of London Gatwick Airport; the delivery of dual ground operations is of strategic importance to London Gatwick and its airline customers. It’s been a high priority for us and will be key in delivering a strong performance this summer. A big thank you to the NATS team who have worked in partnership with the airport to deliver this scheme in the most efficient and timely manner since returning to the tower. The introduction of a second GMC position is also one of the key building blocks to enable dual runway operations, initially supporting the build program in the coming years.

Graham Alder, Head of Aerodrome, London Gatwick Airport