Control centre systems
Keeping controllers in control
To help manage air traffic safely and efficiently, controllers need workstations that deliver the information they need, without fail. NATS makes sure that what’s on the screen enhances a controller’s efficiency, both operationally and environmentally.
Our experience is essential when it comes to integrating the different elements of a system to work as a whole.
For the controller, this is shown in the safety nets that the interface provides – such as short-term conflict alerts, iFACTS and barometric pressure tools. But it’s behind the scenes that the real work goes on…
Understanding the controller’s needs
This starts from the moment a new Control Centre System is considered. Our skill is in analysing what’s important for the controller at any location, and making sure we incorporate that when it comes to designing the system.
For instance, we can provide resource planning as a way of increasing flight efficiency and reducing delay. By designing a system that can predict weather warnings up to four hours in advance, we can help controllers reroute aircraft to reduce delays and ensure aircraft avoid risk zones.
Integration for resilience
Our experience is essential when it comes to integrating the different elements of a system to work as a whole.
When different suppliers provide equipment for all different parts of the control centre, this can cause problems or conflicts of interest. However, our knowledge of which suppliers to use and our expertise in integration means we are able to design a system without any single point of failure, providing the resilience you need to comply with the highest safety standards.
Engineering the infrastructure
We have highly skilled engineers in the field to keep the infrastructure behind the control centres working seamlessly. For instance, we can design radar redundancy measures into the system so that if a radar component fails, its coverage can be filled in while our engineers carry out repairs.
Safety at all times
Our engineering design team can advise about safety and systems software standards. They can assess your prospective system against safety assurance and makes sure it meets the required standards, ensuring that the risk is understood and specifying new systems to meet the standards you have to operate within.
