Whiteley-based air traffic control company NATS is to provide expert advice to a Government commission examining future airport capacity in the south east of England.
NATS CEO Richard Deakin speaking on Murnaghan on Sky News
NATS Chief Executive Officer Richard Deakin confirmed NATS has been asked to be an expert advisor to the Airports Commission when he appeared on Sky News yesterday (May 19).
Speaking to Dermot Murnaghan, Mr Deakin said he was delighted that the company – which has an air traffic control centre at Swanwick as well as its headquarters in Whiteley – had been asked to be part of the commission.
The Airports Commission is due to publish its report by the end of 2013, providing an assessment of the nature, scale and timing of any need for new capacity including more runways at Heathrow Airport.
It will also set out recommendations for short and medium term actions to improve the use of existing runway capacity in the next five years and in relation to any long-term options that should be taken forward for more detailed consideration from 2014 onwards.
Mr Deakin said: “Airports are only as good as the airspace that supports them – and we have unrivalled expertise and understanding of how to make best use of this critical, but invisible pillar of transport infrastructure.
“I am delighted that the Commission recognises the value we can add and we look forward to working with them.”
NATS will provide input into the Commission’s review of measures to increase airport capacity and the implications for airspace design.
NATS will also contribute to the early assessment of longer term options for improving airport capacity, including airspace considerations for new runways or airports.