Holds are a standard procedure for managing traffic flow into an airport and maintaining safe separation between aircraft. These racetrack-shaped flight patterns allow aircraft to be held at different altitudes while the pilot awaits further instructions from air traffic control (ATC).

When a major international football tournament takes place, most attention is on the matches, the players and the travelling fans. But behind the scenes, events like the World Cup can have a real impact on the aviation network.

Air Traffic Controllers, or ATCOs, are closely involved in every stage of airspace change. Their operational insight is critical from the outset, highlighting risks and challenges early in the process. They then work alongside airspace modernisation teams to develop practical, innovative designs grounded in both data and real-world controlling experience.

The clocks have gone back and with that we’re into the winter flying schedule and what are usually the quieter months of the year once the summer season ends. And while the traffic volumes may have followed that annual trend, I’m really encouraged to see that traffic percentages are creeping up … slowly but surely.