Dubai-based airline flydubai and NATS, the UK air traffic management (ATM) services provider, have signed a memorandum of co-operation (MoC) which allows the two organisations to explore how their core capabilities can be utilised to deliver significant benefits to the airline’s business.
James Vial, flydubai ‘s Senior Vice President Flight Operations, said, “flydubai is keen to tap into the extensive experience NATS brings from its previous projects and existing services. We have seen and continue to see significant growth at a diverse range of destinations where support and assistance from an entity like NATS can be of huge benefit to both the airline and, importantly, local ANSPs and authorities.” The initial focus of the co-operation will examine how NATS can use its extensive operations and global air traffic management (ATM) knowledge to benefit current and future flydubai operations.
The agreement is aimed at delivering measurable improvements in the safety, capacity and efficiency of flydubai ‘s flights, in addition to enhancing the airline’s productivity, contingency and growth capabilities, which are part of flydubai ‘s seven focal pillars of programme improvement.
Ben Kiff, Proposition Development Lead for NATS Middle East activities, “This is one of a number of regional activities between NATS and an airline and it is exciting to be developing this specific proposition in collaboration with flydubai . The next few months will see NATS focus on bringing extensive Procedure Design (Pans Ops) experience forward in collaboration with members of the Aeronautical Services team at flydubai to deliver improvements to specific procedures in consultation with the relevant ANSPs and Civil Aviation Authorities.” NATS is a leading global provider of . It handled 2.2 million flights in 2011/12, covering the UK and eastern North Atlantic. NATS provides air traffic control from centres at Swanwick, Hampshire, Prestwick and Ayrshire in UK.
NATS is currently working on projects in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, and has previously worked with Bahrain and Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to support the safety, efficiency and environmental performance of its airspace.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates