Airspace modernisation

Mark Swan has been appointed to head the newly created Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG), which the Government has tasked with coordinating the airspace changes needed to modernise the UK’s airspace.  Mark is currently group director of Safety and Airspace Regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and is a member of its Board.

The ACOG, commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the CAA, will operate as an independent body within NATS.

Mark and his team, drawn from across the industry, will be responsible for coordinating and managing a collective programme of more than 15 airspace change projects across 14 airports and the upper airspace of the UK over the coming years. They will report into a steering group with representatives drawn from airlines, airports, NATS and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. In developing its programme, ACOG will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of communities and other airspace users.

Modernising the UK’s airspace will help to reduce the impact of aviation and increase capacity, making journeys cleaner, quieter and quicker.  New technology may also provide opportunities to reduce the amount of controlled airspace used by airports for commercial flights, allowing greater access for general aviation users.  The programme is expected to cost £150m and will be industry funded.  See in this issue Record air traffic movements.

BTN recently visited the NATS technical centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, and will feature in a future edition.

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Rick Peacock-Edwards, UK

Good luck, Mark, you are the right man for the job.