We compete for our business at the airports and have won all 15 of our contracts by being extremely good at what we do and the service we can offer. In 2005 we won our first overseas contract, for RAF Gibraltar.
Our “en route” business is regulated, and we operate under licence from the Civil Aviation Authority. The terms of our licence, available in full on the CAA website, require NATS to be capable of meeting on a continuous basis any reasonable level of overall demand. We are charged with permitting access to airspace on the part of all users, whilst making the most efficient overall use of airspace.
NATS is leading the industry in terms of technological and business development and sells a range of product and consultancy services.
The showcase for many of these products is our own operation where we:
- operate and maintain a nationwide communications, surveillance and navigation network
- provide engineering support at all operational units
- carry out advanced research and development
- develop ground breaking software for current and new systems
- have world class training for air traffic controllers and engineers
The guiding principle of air traffic control is that safety is paramount. Controllers must therefore keep the aircraft they handle safely separated using internationally agreed standards. This is achieved by allocating different heights to aircraft or by arranging certain minimum horizontal distances between them. These distances vary according to circumstances, but aircraft flying along the airways under radar surveillance, for example, are kept five nautical miles apart horizontally or at least 1,000 feet vertically.
Within the airspace, a network of corridors has been established. These corridors, or airways, are usually ten miles wide and reach up to a height of 24,000 feet from a base of between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. They mainly link busy areas of airspace known as terminal control areas which are normally above major airports. At a lower level are the control zones which are established around each airport. The area above 24,500 feet is known as upper airspace.
All these areas are designated “controlled airspace” and aircraft fly in them under the supervision of air traffic controllers. Pilots are required to file a flight plan for each journey containing details such as destination, route, timing and height.
Within controlled airspace, pilots must follow controllers’ instructions; outside controlled airspace they take full responsibility for their own safety although they can ask for assistance. In fact, military controllers, who work closely with their civilian colleagues to provide a fully integrated service to all users, offer an air traffic service to aircraft in uncontrolled airspace. Military personnel also provide services to aircraft crossing airways and for those flying above 24,500 feet. A priority task for them is aiding aircraft in distress.
Aircraft in the initial or final stages of their journey are managed by controllers at the airport itself. When aircraft join the airways system, responsibility for handling them passes to colleagues working at the appropriate area control centre. A flight through their airspace could pass through several “sectors” of airspace, each managed by a different team of controllers.
NATS means NATS En Route plc (company number: 4129273), NATS (Services) Ltd (company number 4129270), NATSNAV Ltd (company number: 4164590) or NATS Ltd (company number 3155567). All companies are registered in England and their registered office is at 4000 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, Hants. PO15 7FL