Heathrow
Following the deployment of Pairwise Separation at Heathrow Airport in December, I sat with John Eden, Service Technical Expert for Traffic Synchronisation, and a key member of the project team, to discuss the intricacies involved, the challenges encountered, and how they were successfully overcome.
In the latest episode of Altitude, Kelly Stone MBE, Heathrow Head of Operations and Jeannine Fernandes, NATS Heathrow Air Traffic Coordinator, joined our host Ady Dolan for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Europe’s busiest airport and how the centre is evolving to meet future demands.
A Time For Reflection: Remembrance Day 2023
10 November 2023As we remember those who lost our lives in conflict, Prestwick air traffic controller Angela Henderson tells us about the incredible story of her pioneering war time grandparents. Douglas and Margaret Fairweather are among the very few married couples to rest together in a Commonwealth War Grave and here, Angela reflects on their courageous acts….
Heathrow air traffic control’s secret ingredient
24 July 2023Every day at Heathrow is an incredible feat of logistical and operational planning and delivery. Nowhere is that clearer than in the air traffic control team, but at Heathrow we do have one added secret ingredient: HOEC, the Heathrow Operational Efficiency Cell.
You may be wondering, what does professional football have to do with air traffic control? It might not be obvious at first, but there are a lot of similarities – not least that both are high performing, high pressure careers which require certain levels of aptitude and mentality.
You might have spotted the Heathrow air traffic control tower on TV recently in the BBC’s new show – ‘The Airport: Back in the Skies’. Presented by the original 90’s ‘Airport’ series star Jeremy Spake, the five-part documentary series looks at how the aviation industry at Britain’s busiest airport managed through the most challenging time in its history.
Storm Eunice: Go-arounds and air traffic control
25 February 2022There were nine go-arounds in a row at one point at Heathrow, and 40 in total between 07:00 and 14:00, when usually we might see one a day. Add in similar problems at other airports and you’re suddenly dealing with a very complex, dynamic and challenging environment.
We’re extending our Artificial Intelligence trial to include full low visibility conditions
18 December 2019Earlier this year we started a project looking at whether we could apply a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ultra-HD camera technology to help cut weather- related delays at Heathrow. Here’s an update on what we’re doing next.
Challenging our digital tower assumptions
19 February 2019The idea that a digital tower can mean only that you look to replicate exactly what a controller can already see – the application we see most of around the world – is forcing constraints on the technology that don’t need to exist. This technology is revolutionary, so why strive to only recreate what we already have?
Test Match Special – Howzat for a Prize!
30 July 2018For the next 11 Mondays we’ll be asking a new airspace related question – bowl us over with the right answer and you could be one of two lucky winners walking away with £250 each. This week’s question has been inspired by the upcoming test match…