Altitude is a monthly podcast from NATS.
 
Climate change represents an existential challenge to the aviation industry. We need to act now not just because it’s the right thing to do for the future of our planet, but because failure to do so will see flying become more and more socially unacceptable. Technological advances like sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft are incredibly exciting and promise that future generations will be able to enjoy the freedom to travel without the environmental impacts we are now acutely aware of. However, most of these transformative technologies are still 10-15 years away and if aviation is to meet the target of reaching net-zero by 2050, we must do more. Operational improvements can be delivered much more near-term through better and more efficient use of airspace and on-board technology. This, too, is vital to reaching the 2050 target, and for aviation to play its part in delivering on the UK’s 2035 emissions reduction milestone. 

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, later this year, join NATS Head of Sustainable Operations, Ian Jopson with British Airways’ Head of Sustainability, Carrie Harris, for an exploration of both the short- and long-term strategies the industry needs to deploy to meet the climate challenge.
 
 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in May 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.
 
While the industry may now be eyeing the prospect of a recovery from the covid crisis, for many airports, plans for expensive new ground-based infrastructure may yet remain on ice for the foreseeable future. Being able to maximise the efficiency of existing runways, stands and terminals in order to keep costs and delays low is therefore going to be critically important over the coming years as traffic returns. Making airport operations more predicable by delivering a smoother, more managed flow of traffic can help bridge the gap, allowing airports to move more aircraft for a fraction of the investment needed for ground- based infrastructure. 

Host Jonny White (Product Portfolio Manager) is joined by Consultant Steve Hammond and Adrian Clark, Manager Advanced Concepts, Airspace & Future Operations to explore how airports can achieve greater operational predictability and stability and why that also means less airborne delay, a greener recovery and a more efficient deployment of airport resources.
 
 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in April 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.
 
COVID-19 has had a massive impact on air travel, with traffic and passenger figures reduced to pre-2000 levels in many regions, but there remains cause to be optimistic about the future… Unmanned aviation, Automation and Artificial Intelligence all promise to be the next paradigm shift in air traffic management, helping to build a better, more efficient and more sustainable future. But harnessing those technologies poses a major challenge in what is a safety critical industry. 

Host Ady Dolan (Heathrow Air Traffic controller) is joined by Louisa Smith, Head of Research & Development and Gary Cutts, Challenge Director for UK Research and Innovation to explore the technologies, concepts, priorities and partnerships that are going to help usher in the future of aviation in a post-covid world.
 
 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in March 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.

On 25 February 1920, the UK Air Ministry gave approval for the construction of a new building at London Croydon Airport, to be ‘erected 15 feet above ground level’ and with ‘large windows to be placed on all four walls’. This building was to be known as the ‘Aerodrome Control Tower’ and at a stroke coined both the term that has remained synonymous with Air Traffic Control for the past 100 years and a design that remains instantly recognisable. 

Host Ady Dolan (Heathrow Air Traffic controller) is joined by Adam Spink (air traffic controller and history enthusiast) and Ian Walker (Chair of Historic Croydon Airport Trust) for an exploration of what life was like for those early air traffic innovators, and the foundations they laid that we still rely on today to keep the skies safe.

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

(Originally broadcast in Feb 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.
 
A decade ago, digital towers were a niche concept, confined to a small part of the industry. Today and they are an operational reality for airports around the world. From London to Singapore via Budapest and Colorado, airports of all sizes are now going ‘digital’. And while the initial attraction was in the use of cameras and high-speed data connections to move controllers offsite, we’re now discovering the potential is far, far greater. 

Host Ady Dolan (Heathrow Air Traffic controller) is joined Andy Taylor (NATS Chief Solutions Officer for Digital Towers) and Neil Bowles (Executive Vice President at Searidge Technologies) to discuss whether digital control towers really are the future for airport operations.
 
 Enjoy the show and find out more at nats.aero/altitude

(Originally broadcast in January 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.

Heathrow air traffic controller Ady Dolan is joined by Rob Mitchell, Manager ATC Development, Ocean, and Aireon CTO Vinny Capezzuto for a lively discussion charting the highs and lows of introducing Space Based ADS-B over the North Atlantic. 

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

(Originally broadcast in December 2020)

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

Climate change represents an existential challenge to the aviation industry. We need to act now not just because it’s the right thing to do for the future of our planet, but because failure to do so will see flying become more and more socially unacceptable. 

Technological advances like sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft are incredibly exciting and promise that future generations will be able to enjoy the freedom to travel without the environmental impacts we are now acutely aware of. 

However, most of these transformative technologies are still 10-15 years away and if aviation is to meet the target of reaching net-zero by 2050, we must do more. 

Operational improvements can be delivered much more near-term through better and more efficient use of airspace and on-board technology. This, too, is vital to reaching the 2050 target, and for aviation to play its part in delivering on the UK’s 2035 emissions reduction milestone. 

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, later this year, join NATS Head of Sustainable Operations, Ian Jopson with British Airways’ Head of Sustainability, Carrie Harris, for an exploration of both the short- and long-term strategies the industry needs to deploy to meet the climate challenge.