The future possibilities are all positive. No need to fear separation or change from the current arrangement. Scotland could become the hub for a Eurocontrol [West] solution, with the Irish and Scandinavian ANSP's.....just one big block of airspace. Ask yourself this...." If the current UK set-up is so efficient then why are the nav charges amongst the highest?"
Scotland can become a lean mean controlling machine......and coupled to the current Eurocontrol area it could be the birth of achievable continent-wide fuel saving routes.
Don't forget the income from controlling airspace which is south of the "border". Scottish Control operate down to North Wales and the English Midlands which is cheaper than an English alternative owing to pay banding differences.

"would NATS want to maintain 2 centres and the associated doubling of running costs, given the fact Swanwick is big enough to hold both?".

Not sure I buy the "doubling of running costs" if that is simply as a result of the creation of an iScotland.

The current set up provides for 2 centres managed with a single HQ. As (essentially) a private company, I fail to see what significant additional costs NATS would incur by continuing to provide the exisiting ATS over iScotland and the NE Atlantic, under the same charging principal, whilst keeping PC open for that purpose.

If, unlikely as it is, another small/medium sized country in Europe invited NATS to manage its ATS provision would NATS say no? Or if the technology was in place say 'yes', but only if they can manage it from a single centre located in rUK?

Should an iScotland Govt. say to NATS please carry on and keep PC open, I simply can't see NATS walking away from the revenue for the sake of having to keep PC open. (I suspect the IAA would be waiting in the wings to jump in and propose a joint Irish/Scottish venture/FAB if NATS were to say no. Would NATS be keen to see that happen?).

Surely after Independence all oceanic traffic will turn left at Walasey and so avoid all Scottish airspace and any taxes they choose to impose...


Also it would save having to clean the airplane of all those pesky splattered bugs.


.

They're already doing that phiggs... Though I don't think the Great Highland Midge gets much above FL195.:E

055166k
Our air was not for sale: it has been given away

AFAIK, Eurocontrol paid for the building and fitting out of Shannon Centre.

AFAIK, The German government pays for the 'back room work' carried out here by NATS employees

Three good reasons...but I suspect that you knew this and were looking for someone else to state it :rolleyes:

It is not a level playing field :mad: