Visit ATC Day launched

Notes to Editors

The Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) is a joint CAA, NATS, Airport Operator's Association, General Aviation and Ministry of Defence effort to investigate and tackle the major safety risks in UK airspace.

It emerged from a top-level discussion between the CAA Chairman, NATS Chief Executive and MoD Assistant Chief of the Air Staff following a number of incidents where light aircraft infringed controlled airspace, or military and commercial flights conflicted outside controlled airspace.

The ASI is a major review covering a number of different areas, with the aims of:

Enhancing safety outside controlled airspace
Identifying the hazards associated with the use of UK airspace
Identifying the needs ofallairspace users
Prioritizing the hazards, and
Developing a strategy to mitigate those risks while meeting the needs of allairspace users.

16 September 2011

UK pilots will once again have the opportunity to view proceedings at Air Traffic Control units at a host of participating civil and military aerodromes. As the Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI) release details of this year's 'Visit ATC Day', pilots curious to see life from an air traffic controller's perspective are being encouraged to sign up for a tour of any of the dozen or so ATC units that are opening their doors for a day or a weekend during the month of October.

The scheme, now in its third year, intends to increase the mutual understanding of pilots and controllers. All the visits will require prior registration and are open only to holders of pilot licences (NPPL, PPL, BGA certificate etc and student pilots). Those attending will be required to show their licence or evidence that they are learning to fly. Pilots who have notpre-registered or cannot produce their licence orevidence on the day unfortunately will not be admitted.

ATC units already confirmed include RAF Northolt, RAF Coningsby and RAF Linton-on-Ouse, as well as NATS units at Cardiff, Farnborough, Manchester, Belfast International, London City, Birmingham, Aberdeen and Stansted.

A list of particpating units, with dates and contact details for pre-registration, are set out below.

More locations and dates will be added over the coming weeks.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. All the events are free of charge.

For more media information please contact the ASI Press Office on 020 7453 6030. Follow the Airspace & Safety Initiative on www.twitter.com/airspacesafety

Visit ATC Day 2011

East Midlands – JUST ADDED
13 October
Contact the watch supervisor on 01332 852993

Edinburgh Airport – JUST ADDED
8 October
James Hogg
james.hogg@nats.co.uk

Swanwick Centre
27 October – FULLY BOOKED
Richard Boden
richard.boden2@nats.co.uk

Prestwick Centre
30 October
Andy Williams
andy.williams@nats.co.uk

Cardiff
22 October
Sue Holly
susan.holly@nats.co.uk
01446 712575

Manchester
1 and 2 October – FULLY BOOKED
Chris Walsh
chris.walsh@nats.co.uk

Farnborough
6,13,20 and 27 October – FULLY BOOKED
Neil Turner
neil.turner@nats.co.uk

Belfast International Airport
TBC
Conan Butcher
Conan.BUTCHER@nats.co.uk

London City
7, 14, 21 and 28 October
Chandra Solanki
Chandra.Solanki@nats.co.uk

Birmingham
20 November – pilots who had contacted before please re-apply with details of their base if you can make the date
James Carr
James.Carr@nats.co.uk

Aberdeen
21 and 22 October
Mike Simon
01224 727178

Stansted
9 October – FULLY BOOKED
Peter Vringer
Peter.Vringer@nats.co.uk

Bristol
7 and 8 October – FULLY BOOKED
Ian Beadle
Ian.Beadle@nats.co.uk

Southampton
15 October
Visit to ATC Tower not possible
SimonDavison
simon.davison@nats.co.uk

Norwich
15/16 Oct and 22/23 October
Ian McDowell
ian.mcdowell@norwichinternational.com

Blackpool
By mutual arrangement
atc@blackpoolairport.com

RAF Linton-on-Ouse
6 October
Flt Lt Karen Lofthouse
lin-opsatcof10@lintononouse.raf.mod.uk

RAF Conningsby
4 October
Sgt Richard Eggleton
eggletonr552@coningsby.raf.mod.uk

RAF Northolt
By mutual arrangement
Sqn Ldr Rachel Thomas
NOR-OPSSATCO@mod.uk

RAF Odiham
TBC
Sgt Ed Winchester
ODI-Ops-ATCATCO09@mod.uk

Visitors are required to register in advance directlywith the Unit concerned. On the day of the visit pilots will be required to show their licence, or evidence that they are learning to fly.

For more information on the ASI project visit airspacesafety.com and for PPL information on airspace infringements visit flyontrack.co.uk