NATS hails system success

Aircraft flying from Europe into Heathrow are benefiting from more accurate delay information thanks to advanced data available from development by air traffic management organisation NATS called Arrival Manager system, or AMAN.

The system uses data fed into it from the point at which aircraft push back off the stand, rather than take-off, the previous point.

NATS says this gives both aircraft and controllers even more advanced delay information and should reduce the time aircraft spend holding in one of the airport’s four stacks.

When delay in the airport’s holding stacks is forecast to reach 7min, aircraft are instructed to reduce speed. Aircraft still arrive at the airport at their scheduled times, but spend more time cruising at a higher altitude and less time in the hold.

Peter Dawson, general manager for London Terminal Control at the NATS complex at Swanwick, said: “As an active participant in the Single European Sky programme, we are delighted to see the success of this collaboration, which results in real cost and fuel savings for our airline customers. 

“This recent improvement in an already highly-effective system will also help to streamline further arrivals into the congested airspace in the south east of England.”

www.nats.aero

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