Precision Applications at Manchester Airport

A new Air Traffic Control Tower is being constructed at Manchester Airport as part of their on-going development plan. Precision Applications completed the installation of a new Veristore ATC Recording System in the existing tower in May 2011. Towards the end of the year this system will be moved to the new tower. The new tower will be 60 metres high with 360-degree panoramic views, providing unrivalled views of the entire airfield. It will be stand-alone, purpose built, with the base of the building housing a new equipment centre and ATC offices. Work started in December 2011 and the tower is scheduled to be fully operational in the spring of 2013.

Denise Malyan, Managing Director of Precision Applications said, "We are delighted to be able to assist NATS with this demanding task. The installation of the equipment in the new tower is straightforward but it will take a considerable amount of planning to ensure that the recording in the existing tower is not compromised during the transition period."

Derek Brien, Head of Customer Solutions at NATS said, "We have worked with Precision Applications at a number of installations since 2007 and we are confident that they will provide us with an efficient and professional service to enable us to complete this project without any disruption to the operation of the airport."

Manchester Airport operates around the clock and NATS, the UKs leading Air Traffic Control Company, are responsible for the operation and management of the ATC facilities. The installation in the new tower will begin in the autumn of this year and the existing tower will have to remain fully operational until the new tower is commissioned and accepted. Precision Applications will work very closely with NATS during the transition period when the air traffic controllers will be working in the old tower with equipment being installed and commissioned in the new tower at the same time. Precision Applications will loan recorders to NATS for this period of time to ensure that all of the data will always be recorded in accordance within the requirements of the CAA.