We urgently need regulatory reform and common standards to stimulate contestable markets and accelerate progress across Europe, rather than yet more regulation and legislation.

The growth of wind energy in the UK has created an increasing challenge for aviation and air traffic control in particular.

Two NATS air traffic controllers who were working on 11 September 2001 share their memories of that day 12 years on.

NATS is playing a central role in supporting the development of UAVs in the UK. In fact we’ve actually been controlling remotely piloted or unmanned air systems for more than 40 years.

Last Thursday, our Prestwick Control Centre hosted a conference as part of a series of events taking place during the Prestwick World Festival of Flight 2013, a 10-day celebration of a century of aviation at Prestwick.

I don’t think that there can be any doubt that the biggest challenge affecting the aviation industry in the Middle East is congestion.

With less than a year to go to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and planning well under way, we’ve been reflecting on the work we were doing this time last year at the London 2012 Olympics.

Air traffic control is all about getting as many aircraft through your airspace as efficiently and safely as possible. If you can successfully do that day in day out, passengers, airports and airlines will all be happy – sounds simple!

It’s been a couple of months of positive news from the Middle East aviation industry. No-where was that more in evidence than at the 13th annual Airport Show in Dubai.

One of the main things occupying the minds of those involved in providing air traffic services is how we reduce costs for airlines whilst improving safety and reducing emissions. Adrian Clark is one of our experts who forms part of the SESAR team looking into how to do this in Terminal Operations.