New air traffic system unveiled

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A new £50m computer system that will revolutionise air traffic control was unveiled in Hampshire on Wednesday.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) at Swanwick, near Fareham, said the system will enable controllers to increase the amount of traffic they can handle.

Known as iFACTS (Interim Future Area Control Tools Support), the system has been described as the biggest change to air traffic control since radar.

It alerts controllers earlier to planes that are not on the right flight path.

Continuing trials at NATS' facility at Hurn, near Bournemouth, have proved successful and a demonstration system has now been installed at Swanwick.

The system will help NATS handle an expected increase in flights from 2.3 million a year to three million by 2013.

Paul Barron, NATS' chief executive, said: "This is one of the most exciting developments in the aviation industry in decades and we're now very close indeed to introducing it.

"All in all, these tools will provide our controllers with some of the most advanced air traffic control systems in the world."