The UK's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) hopes that a green light from the government for its partial privatisation will enable it to grow into a global air traffic control player.
"Pilots the world over recognise the quality of the NATS service," says deputy chief executive Colin Chisholm. "NATS needs to cash in on its excellent brand name."
If the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process goes ahead NATS will enter the commercial world in reasonable shape to take part in the expected consolidation of ATC providers, says Chisholm.
Routes
There are two main routes to consolidating ATC providers: the pan-European model where a centralised body controls ATC across the continent; or the market forces model, where providers will be bought up as the market dictates.
NATS believes the market forces model will prevail. "It has been proven to work, for example in the telecommunications industry, and will result in a consolidated and more efficient system," says Chisholm.
The main ATC providers across the globe include NATS, Germany's DFS, NavCanada, and the Airways Corporation of New Zealand.
There will be perhaps four main strategic ATC alliances worldwide as the consolidation process unwinds, and NATS has had preliminary discussions with many of the potential partners as it assesses the role it wants play in the future global ATC environment.
Those expressing an interest in bidding for NATS include the Airlines Group, Lockheed Martin with Airways Corporation of New Zealand, Thomson-CSF Racal, Raytheon, Boeing and BAE Systems.
Those expressing an interest in bidding for NATS include the Airlines Group, Lockheed Martin with Airways Corporation of New Zealand, Thomson-CSF Racal, Raytheon, Boeing and BAE Systems.
Source: Flight Daily News
