NATS Altitude

This episode of Altitude we’re exploring the next generation of aviation and airspace users.

Air taxis, mass drone operations and spaceports may sound like science fiction, but it is a future that is far closer than you might think

Within a few years, a drone could be dropping your prescription at your front door as you book an electric air taxi to take you to the airport, while a few miles down the road, a communications company is launching a satellite from the local spaceport…

It is a part of the industry that has accelerated massively over the past few years and is now on the verge of becoming a scalable reality, with the potential to change how we travel, connect communities decarbonise local transport.

Join us as we dig into the most exciting innovations in urban air mobility, discuss the implications for air traffic management and unpick the technology and regulatory hurdles that still need to be overcome.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

It’s airshow season!

The sight and sound of stunning air displays and incredible aerobatic performances by some of the world’s best pilots is hard to beat.

But with Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) just a week away, what does it take to plan, manage and safely deliver a truly spectacular airshow? How does the role of the air traffic controllers at a display differ from the day job?

The tower at RIAT is made up of volunteer controllers from all over the UK who work incredibly hard to make the show a safe and exciting experience for the thousands who attend, but that work starts long before the doors open to the public.

In this month’s episode of Altitude we welcome two guests - Heathrow air traffic controllers by day who have also worked at some of the world’s busiest and biggest airshows.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

After a tumultuous two years it feels like the aviation industry is finally emerging from the shadow of the Covid crisis.

But while the skies are getting busier, the recovery remains uncertain and uneven, especially in many parts of the world.

What role then, can air traffic management play in helping secure the recovery but also in future proofing airport operations as traffic levels begin to return to what we used to think of as normal.

Capacity, operational resilience and sustainability are all creeping back on the agenda and advancements in air traffic management, either in terms of airspace management or the deployment of new technologies, are almost uniquely placed to deliver against all those objectives, and usually for a fraction of the cost and time required for other capital investments.

But what should the priorities be and what challenges remain?

Ahead of the World ATM Congress, join us to hear about the latest developments in air traffic technology, why hybrid digital towers may be the next big thing, and how smarter arrivals management could save airports billions.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

The weather influences all our lives, from whether you’ll regret not taking that umbrella to wishing you’d packed the sun cream, but for air traffic control the weather is an obsession. 

Rain, wind, snow, fog and thunderstorms can all conspire to overturn well-rehearsed plans, resulting in a hugely challenging and complex environment where maintaining safety is always the first priority. 

But why does a storm in Athens leave you grounded in Glasgow? What exactly are the most challenging conditions to cope with and what are the tools that air traffic controllers and meteorologists employ to minimise the disruption? And how will a rise in extreme weather conditions affect operations in the future? 

Join us as we explore all these questions and more with UK Met Office Meteorologist Emma Corrigan, air traffic flow and capacity management expert, Kevin Morgan, and air traffic controller and host, Fran Slater.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

As the days get longer and the weather improves, aviation enthusiasts across the country will be taking to the skies in their thousands to explore the world from up above.

After two years of Covid restrictions limiting the amount of flying time for many pilots, we’d like to support the General Aviation (GA) community on a safe return to flying and take the opportunity to talk about the tools and assistance available to GA pilots. UK airspace is still some of the busiest in the world, and with commercial traffic increasing it is important that everyone plays their part in helping to keep the skies safe for all users.

Join us as we talk to air traffic controller, Amanda Rhodes and Chief Executive of the General Aviation Safety Council, Mike O’Donoghue, and hear about their experiences and top tips for safe flying this season.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

On 17 January 2008, flight BAW38 crash landed short of the runway at Heathrow Airport following a total loss of power to both engines. Remarkably there were no fatalities, but it remains the most serious commercial aircraft accident in the UK in recent years.

The fact that it did not end in tragedy is testament both to how incredibly safe modern aviation has become, and to the training and professionalism of all the individuals involved. 

But what is it really like to be faced with an unfolding emergency? Can any amount of training equip someone with the skill, confidence, and courage to do what’s needed in the midst of a potential disaster?  

Hear from two of the controllers in the tower that day about what would be the most memorable, pressurised and emotionally charged few minutes of their lives. Find out how events unfolded and the legacy the incident has had on their lives, careers and wider industry.

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

Aside from being one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, the timeless classic Die Hard 2 also features some of the closest depictions of air traffic control yet committed to celluloid

The story of how a terrorist group manages to commandeer an entire airport on Christmas Eve, while a man in a big jumper crawls through the baggage handling system to stop them, is a tale for the ages.

But how close is it to real life? Has any controller ever been told to “stack ‘em, pack ‘em and rack ‘em?” Can you change sea level on the Instrument Landing System from an old church? What really sets off the airport metal detectors first? And most importantly, is Die Hard really a Christmas movie?

These questions and many more will the focus of our Altitude Christmas Special: Die Hard 2: Myth-busting a Christmas Classic

Join NATS Heathrow air traffic controllers and Die Hard mega fans, Ady Dolan and Chris Jones alongside commercial airline pilot, Lyndsay McGregor, as we unpick fact from glorious fiction.

Yippee ki yay air traffickers.

 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

After a hiatus of 18 months, the World ATM Congress returns to Madrid at the end of the month, but what kind of show can we expect as the industry continues to feel the effects of the Covid crisis?  
 
Despite encouraging signs of recovery, traffic levels remain far below pre-pandemic levels in many parts of world. Does that mean plans for expensive new technologies and ground based infrastructure should remain on ice for the foreseeable future, or is now the perfect time to invest? 
 
One thing is certain, being able to maximise the efficiency of existing runways and airspace, accurately model future demand, and prolong the life and enhance the capability of existing airport assets is going to be critically important over the coming years as traffic does begin return. 
 
So, join us for an analysis of the global Air Traffic Management market on the eve of its biggest conference and trade show. Discover how ‘one size fits all’ digital towers are yesterday’s thinking, how optimising runway delivery can help cash strapped airports make smarter use of what they’ve already got, and why true operational predictability may finally be within reach.  

Panel:
Jonny White, NATS Head of Product Management
Andy Taylor, NATS Chief Solutions Officer, Digital Towers
Ben Sandford, NATS Intelligent Approach Product Manager

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

Altitude is a monthly podcast from NATS.

The last 18 months has been a period of extraordinary turmoil for the aviation industry, and even now as much of the rest of the world begins to recover, UK air traffic remains at around 50% of 2019 levels.

So, what are the long-term prospects for aviation in the UK? What needs to be done to secure a better, brighter future as we learn to live alongside Covid?

From rebuilding passenger confidence and investment in new technologies, through to airspace modernisation and the need to tackle the sustainability challenge, the list of priorities for the industry’s leaders is a long and complex one.

Join us for a special episode of Altitude for the unique opportunity to hear Sean Doyle, British Airways Chief Executive and Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, in conversation with Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS.

 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in September 2021)

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero

Altitude is a monthly podcast from NATS.
 
It’s now 11 years since a huge volcanic eruption in Iceland grounded flights across the UK and much of northwest Europe. For six days in April 2010, the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (or E-15) left millions of passengers stranded around the world. Fears over the effect of flying through clouds of ash rich in particles of glass left the industry, regulators and policy makers all struggling to grabble with what was then an event on an unprecedented scale. But what really happened behind closed doors 11 years ago and what has changed since? What lessons did the industry learn from 2010 and what will happen during the next, inevitable eruption? 

In this special episode of Altitude we’ll hear from the controllers and pilots who worked through the crisis, learn about the changes the industry has pioneered since, and get a preview of the huge pan-industry exercise due this autumn.
 
 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in August 2021)

You can also watch an on demand version of the livestream on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatsAero