BT lands air traffic control contract

Telecoms giant BT was today handed the task of developing a state-of-the-art communications system to cope with heavier traffic in the skies.

BT won a £32m (€47.3m) contract to build a network to support all the radar, communications and air traffic control centres operated by National Air Traffic Services (Nats).

The system will play a key role in guaranteeing safety and security ahead of a significant expansion in air traffic over the next eight years.

Nats is investing £1bn (€1.47bn) to build capacity to support an increase in flights from 2.1 million last year to 3 million annually by 2012.

The organisation is responsible for guiding aircraft through the skies from centres at Manchester, West Drayton near Heathrow Airport, Prestwick, and Swanwick near Southampton.

In addition, it operates air traffic control towers at 14 airports around the country.

BT beat competition over two years to land the contract, including trials of two systems across a number of Nats sites.

The system – dubbed DaVinci – will carry voice calls, flight and weather data, radar and communications between aircraft and staff on the ground.

It will link all sites currently operated by Nats as well as a contingency facility to be built as part of the new corporate and technical centre at Whiteley, Hampshire, England.

Paul Thomas, general manager of technology and programmes at Nats, said the new network was crucial and would cost less than upgrading the current system. It would pay for itself within its nine-year life.

Phasing-in of the system over the next two years aimed to eliminate any disruption and minimise risk, Nats said.

Simon Patten, general manager of BT Defence, said the contract built on a long relationship with Nats.

He added: “Good communications are at the very heart of Nats’ business and we are confident that BT’s system will provide Nats with the very best technology to meet its future needs.”