Locations Include Heathrow, Gatwick, And Stansted

NATS Services has awarded a contract to provide ground-to-air communication solutions for up to 15 United Kingdom airports including the London gateway airports Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted to Northrop Grumman Corporation. NATS is the U.K.'s leading provider of air traffic control services.

The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman's U.K.-based subsidiary Park Air Systems and followed an international tender process where suppliers were asked to demonstrate innovation and prove value for money through life costs. The communication solutions will build upon existing infrastructure and will allow airports to meet the 8.33 kHz channel spacing requirements set by EuroControl.

The re-use of existing Park Air assets that have many years of useful life remaining will be maximised wherever possible. This approach underpins Park Air's commitment to the environment embodied in its ISO 14001 certification, allowing NATS to deliver a reliable service with minimal outlay.

"Park Air has for many years delivered innovative air traffic communication solutions to U.K. customers including both NATS and the Ministry of Defense," said Charles Houseago, managing director, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems. "Our solution makes maximum use of the existing assets whilst injecting new technology to meet legislative and support demands, thereby allowing our customers to sustain a highly reliable service at the lowest possible cost."

Park Air Systems, based in Peterborough, U.K., supplies aviation communication systems for operations worldwide.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com, www.nats.aero