On the 2nd April 2015, Glasgow Airport will be allocated a listening squawk of 2620. A listening squawk is a code that can be entered into a GA aircraft’s transponder when flying near controlled airspace around an airfield. This makes the aircraft show up on the Glasgow air traffic control team’s radar.

The average passenger on board any one of the 5000 plus flights through UK airspace every day is likely to be aware of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) sat in the control tower at their airport, ensuring a safe and efficient arrival or departure.

However, many people simply aren’t aware of the controllers who make sure that aircraft get to their destination through the airspace in-between airports – either just in the UK or connecting a flight between different countries airspace – that’s the job of the area controller.

Engineers can imagine too! As we begin to deploy more SESAR air traffic management technologies and concepts, we are also imagining how we could further improve our services – now and in the future.

Ensuring air traffic controllers stay sharp and on top of their game is obviously hugely important in terms of the efficient running of an airport or control centre, but especially so for ensuring safety.

Following the launch of our new Engineering Apprenticeship programme it seemed an opportune time to feature another article in our women in engineering series to encourage potential apprentices from both genders to apply before the deadline at the end of March. This one is from Katie Butler, Project Manager in Services and Infrastructure with NATS.

As the solar eclipse grabs the attention of people world-wide, many will be unaware of the how this impacts aviation – and why we need to prepare for it.

Safety is our first priority and our commitment to a culture of safety has resulted in significant improvement in recent years to our safety record. In the past ten years we have halved the number of reportable safety incidents and reduced the number of airprox by 75%. It is a record of which we are justifiably proud but by no means complacent, and we continue to place our Just Culture at the heart of all we are doing to improve our record further.

Six months ago I received an email asking for a response to the House of Lords European Union Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment Sub-Committee call for evidence for its inquiry into the ‘Civilian Use of Drones in the EU’.

With applications still open, National Apprenticeship Week seems like a perfect time for me to remind would-be candidates to make sure they apply for the NATS engineering apprenticeship in plenty of time

This is the third annual World ATM Congress trade show and we’re looking forward to welcoming delegates onto our stand to talk with our team and watch a range of technical demonstrations, as well as participate in more light hearted activities in the form of refreshments and games.