Technology & Innovation
Diversions: Is Improvement Possible?
15 February 2024Over 70 representatives from the aviation industry joined us at Whiteley, for a Mass Diversion Exercise to trial a new tool being developed by EUROCONTROL. Airlines, airports, the CAA and Department for Transport helped us carry out a full-scale trial of an electronic interface, designed to improve the management of aircraft diversions during runway closures and weather events.
What does your future flight roadmap look like?
9 November 2023The last four years have been a fast, furious R&D journey which started when a project called Future Flight Challenge dropped onto my desk. Since then, alongside innovative industry partners who are also part of advancing future flight in the UK, we have been helping to prepare the airspace and airports for a new generation of users.
Airport digitisation is the true ‘digital tower’ revolution
7 November 2023When an operation is reliant on visual, ‘analogue’ data, that is data that cannot be accessed, analysed, shared, augmented or enhanced. In short, it can’t be harnessed to improve the operation. Once you digitise those views, you open up a whole new world of possibilities.
NHS airport drone flight offers a glimpse of the future
3 November 2023This week, I was privileged to represent NATS at the Project Caelus flight trials, which demonstrated that drones are on their way to becoming an important part of the aviation industry, and indeed, everyday life.
Intelligent Approach customers gather for Amsterdam summit
24 October 2023What a wonderful two days we had last week in the beautiful (if a little damp) city of Amsterdam, for our second annual Intelligent Approach User Group meeting.
Past, Present & Future in Hong Kong – Celebrating in the Year of the Rabbit and symbolising longevity
20 October 2023Just over fifteen years ago, NATS made its first foray into the Hong Kong aviation landscape, one of the world’s busiest and most dynamic regions. Since then, through a combination of collaborative partnerships and a dedicated team of aviation experts, we are proud of the innovative, safe and efficient solutions we have helped introduce to the skies of Hong Kong.
Future Flight 3 – Is the Greening of Aviation our next milestone?
28 September 2023Future Flight 1 and 2 helped us to understand how new eVTOLS and drones move, operate and perform. Phase 3 of Future Flight will move us to the next stage, showing us how new airspace users could interact with existing air traffic, at airports and in a shared airspace.
NATS OpenAir: Unlocking the future of aviation
26 September 2023Big jets, bustling airports and exciting destinations may be the conventional image of aviation. But the industry is on the cusp of profound change, with eVTOL aircraft and mass drone operations set to transform our skies in a way we haven’t seen for a hundred years.
Underpinning that new world we need solid foundations, and we’re developing NATS OpenAir to unlock the future of aviation in the UK, revolutionise the way we use airspace and accommodate a new generation of flight.
From New York to New Airspace Designs
8 August 2023Our skies are experiencing a remarkable transformation with the rapid emergence of new airspace users like uncrewed, electric, and high-altitude aircraft. Amidst this dynamic landscape, NATS has been pioneering the use of analytics technologies to revolutionise the way we design safe, efficient, and sustainable airspace networks.
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.