One of the priorities for NATS is to work with Gatwick to support their strategic vision for growth and an enhanced passenger experience. 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.

FRA is a cornerstone of the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy and one of several operational transformations being deployed by NATS to update the airspace.

In aviation, inspiration sometimes comes from unexpected places. In this case, it comes from nature itself.

Quarter three was full of moments that really brought to life how much our people care; not just about the roles they do, but about each other and our communities. Here we focus on the pride NATS takes in giving back and the ways our employees have engaged with others at a local and international level to make a significant difference.

We’re all watching the unfolding Middle East war with concern, worrying about what might happen next. Many of us have friends, colleagues and family stuck there either on holiday, in transit or at work and hoping they’ll stay safe and find a way of getting home soon.

When people think about innovation in air traffic management, they probably picture new tools in the control room or new ways of managing traffic in the skies.  But important innovation also happens much earlier than that in how we identify, assess and support the people who will one day be responsible for keeping aircraft safely separated.

On the job training for trainee Air Traffic Controllers is not only an opportunity to experience the thrill of safely navigating aircraft through the air and on the ground, but an essential part of the journey to validation. We recently caught up with newly validated Air Traffic Controller, Matt Stevens, at Cardiff Tower about his first few months on the job.  

“Aviation is a massive ballet in the sky, with thousands of very small decisions being made every day that all interact with each other.” It sounds lyrical, almost indulgent, until you sit with it for a moment. Because aviation really does move like that: not as a single sweeping motion, but as countless steps, each one dependent on the previous.

On the NATS engineering apprenticeship, you experience a combination of working in operational environments, gaining qualifications at college and also industry standard qualifications.

Craig joined the NATS engineering apprenticeship in September 2025 as part of our Prestwick team, and has since enjoyed a variety of different experiences that provided a good blend of working in the aviation industry and his passion for electrical systems and electronics.

Did you know that aviation is full of STARs? Standard Terminal Arrival Route, also known as STARs, are the final part of a journey before an aircraft is transferred to an approach controller to be guided into the runway for landing. Every STAR placement is a compromise between a variety of factors, including terrain, nearby airports, hold positioning, and traffic flow.