What consideration has been given to replacing the Swanwick Air Traffic Control System and when is it expected that the Swanwick Air Traffic Control System will be replaced?
The NATS Business Plan for 2003-04 is currently being finalised. Subject to that caveat, the Plan envisages that the five main civil en route air traffic control centres in the UK (London Area Control Centre, London Terminal Control Centre, Manchester Area Control Centre, Scottish Area Control Centre and the Oceanic Area Control Centre) and collocated military units (London Mil and Scottish Mil), should be consolidated into two centres at Swanwick and Prestwick. The intention is that all of these operations, with the exception of the Oceanic Centre, will operate on a common system. A systems assessment process is underway and, subject to the approval of a detailed business case, it is envisaged that this new system will be introduced into operation at Prestwick in 2009 and at Swanwick in the early part of the next decade.
I hope this is helpful, though I have to say that the time and effort involved in preparing these responses seems disproportionate to the value of the exercise, given the fact that the matters raised are unrelated to the subject of the Committee's inquiry.
I am sending copies of this letter to the National Audit Office and to the Department for Transport. Andrew Picton 10 March 2003