January 25 2010

A £180m air traffic control centre in Prestwick has moved to full operation today, culmination of a decades work to centralise control of UK airspace to two locations from four.

Designed by Jacobs the centre will handle 42% of British air traffic and accommodates a number of unique security features. Power supplies from the national grid are routed through two independant feeds in case one is compromised and 110t of batteries are stored on site, enough to operate the system for two hours.

This two hour window is critical for the orderly return of aircraft from the skies and is designed into the main floor of operations, it can withstand fire for two hours.

New technologies are being implemented at the centre to improve efficiencies in routing traffic, improving capacity and reducing emissions.

Swanwick in Hampshire controls the airspace of southern Britain.

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