Originally Posted by
bookworm
What would be better is if the company that charges the highest route charge rates in Europe
LOL!! A very very contentious statement and one which does not compare like with like as NATS is the only private ANSP in Europe.
had the systems in place to coordinate clearances and instructions between people sitting at adjacent consoles using that modern miracle of IT the local area network, like every cheaper ATS provider. But apparently it doesn't,
NATS controllers still use paper flight strips so the information is not stored electronically, therefore cannot be transmitted across the LAN. The Swanwick Area Control operation will be the first NATS ACC (excluding the military) to transfer onto an electronic system when iFACTS is deployed in a couple of years. As only Swanwick AC will have iFACTS they will be unable to transmit the Electronic Flight Data (EFD) to any of the other 2 centres (at this point they'll be Swanwick TC and Prestwick). The other two centres will have EFD deployed in coming years but the demise of the collaborative project between NATS and AENA has delayed the start of the work and NATS is now having to work on this by itself.
When all the ACC's are using EFD and the very large capacity WAN which is planned has been built then they'll be able to communicate with each other electronically.
NATS is also working in collaboration with DFS and AENA to build a replacement Flight Data Processing (FDP) system. This will replace its current FDP system NAS, which will face problems of sustainment in a few years time. My personal hope is that other European ANSPs will also buy iTEC and there could then be further electronic integration across Europe instead of reliance on OLDI messages.
NATS has installed a new VCCS system for use by the TC ACC when it moves down to Swanwick in November. This system is being installed in its contingent facility, then in the new Prestwick centre and will replace the VCS system in Swanwick AC.
NATS has nearly completed its radar replacement program and is working on replacing its radar tracking system and STCA which will provide a common system across all 3 ACCs.
NATS will install common controller workstations across all 3 sites and will introduce a common HMI.
Eventually the goal is that you could work at any of the 3 (probably 2 when Swanwick AC and TC combine) ACCs on exactly the same kit which uses exactly the same type of systems in exactly the same way.
BD