When an airport changes its ATC provider...
...what happens to all the communications, radar, navigation equipment etc ?
In the UK, I'm thinking of the situations at Birmingham, Edinburgh and Gatwick airports, all one-time NATS units and now, others.
Assuming these airports owned all their ATC gear, and the new service provider was satisfied with it, great. However, if some or all of it was owned by the outgoing provider, what would stop them swiping everything back on the stroke of midnight and leaving their ex-client high and dry ? For various legal and practical reasons I could never envisage something like this happening. I expect there have to be protection and continuation clauses in contracts.
Thankyou.