Gatwick switches air traffic controller
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Gatwick Airport has changed some of its air traffic control services away from NATS to Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS).
The airport is expected to sign a 10-year contract later this month to start services from October 2015 under the German firm, which will cover air traffic services below 4,000 feet.
NATS will retain operations for air navigation services above 4,000 feet.
“DFS is a company of great standing, operating an extensive network of air traffic control services in Germany. We are very impressed with the company’s technical capabilities, track record and safety standards within its existing operations along with the experience, efficiency and innovation it will bring to Gatwick,” said Gatwick’s CEO Stewart Wingate. “We appreciate the contribution to our business made by NATS over many years and look forward to continuing to work with them in the transition period and across more general air traffic control services.”
NATS was not so happy with the new arrangement.
Mike Stoller, NATS’ director of operations airports said: “We are extremely disappointed that the highly competitive bid we submitted to Gatwick has been unsuccessful. We have added considerable value to Gatwick in recent years, building it to the point where with 55 movements an hour it significantly out-performs every other single runway airport in the world.”
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