Manchester Airport is unique in the UK. As well as handling flights using the airport itself, it is also the site of an area control centre supervising regional air traffic. Manchester has three terminals and a second runway was opened in February 2001. NATS was closely involved with the operational aspects of the development of the second runway and it has developed new procedures to handle the increase in movements. The visual control room has been enhanced and updated to allow for the additional staff needed to safely control aircraft on the second runway. The new runway layout is unique in the UK in that aircraft will need to cross the original runway to reach the second runway.
Fact File
- The airport’s visual control room is 28 metres from the ground and has a floor area of 130 square metres making it one of the largest in Europe.
- Radar data for airport services is provided by a Watchman radar which has a range of 60 miles.
- The second runway is expected to increase movements to over 60 per hour.
- The present Manchester airport was opened at Ringway in 1938 and during the second world war it was used as a parachute training school with civilian flying resuming in 1946.
* CAA statistics terminal passengers
