The UK National Air Traffic Services' (NATS) has abandoned plans to build its New Scottish Centre (NSC) as a private finance initiative project with the Lockheed Martin-led Sky Solution consortium in the wake of a government announcement that the air traffic control provider is to be partially privatised.
The policy about-turn is likely to further delay construction of the Prestwick-based centre. The NSC, a vital part of NATS' strategy requiring two main air traffic control centres (ATCC) for the UK, has already suffered a two-year delay and will not be operational until at least winter 2005/6.
Despite the finance changes Sky Solutions, is still in line to get the contract, NATS confirms. Negotiations have been under way for several months on the revised contract. Lockheed Martin is also the contractor responsible for the much delayed Swanwick ATCC in southern England.
Source: Flight International
