The world’s first air traffic control tower is commissioned at Croydon Airport, laying the foundations for the modern air traffic control profession.
The College moved to Hurn in 1949 from being above the Hoop and Toy pub in London.
National Air Traffic Control Services (NATCS) is created as the forerunner to NATS, covering civil air traffic control while liaising closely with the military.
While training continued at Hurn, a new building for the College opened in 1962.
With the creation of the Civil Aviation Authority, NATCS becomes part of the new regulator and shortens its name to NATS.
NAS processes customers’ flight plans into data that assists controllers to manage the UK’s air traffic.
Recognition of the need to separate provider and regulator, while structural change didn’t occur until 1996.
NATS is established as a separate company within the CAA structure, with civil staff, contracts and corporate functions moved across into the new company.
Government announces that NATS will move to a Public Private Partnership.
The Transport Act 2000 provides the legislative basis for the PPP.
NATS becomes Europe’s first major air navigation service provider to operate in the private sector under a PPP model.
Within weeks of the PPP being completed, the attacks of 11 September reshape global aviation.
Swanwick brings London Area and Terminal Control into a modern centre designed to support Europe’s busiest and most complex airspace.
Following the post-9/11 downturn, the business is refinanced, strengthening the balance sheet and putting the PPP on a more stable footing.
NATS relocates its headquarters from London to Whiteley in Hampshire.
Heathrow Airport’s 87-meter air traffic control tower goes fully operational.
The closure of West Drayton completes the transition to Swanwick and marks the end of a major chapter in UK air traffic control history.
After 35 years of flight control operations from Manchester, MACC moves into the Prestwick Centre.
Whilst operations actually began in January, Prestwick was officially opened in February by HRH The Princess Royal.
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption causes major disruption across Europe and forces aviation to adapt quickly.
After celebrating 60 years at Hurn in 2009, the college completed a move to Whiteley in Fareham, Hampshire.
iFACTS goes operational in Swanwick Area Control with advanced trajectory prediction and medium-term conflict detection to support controller decision-making.
NATS supports the safe and successful management of UK airspace during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Manchester Airport’s 60-meter air traffic control tower officially goes operational.
Time-Based Separation is introduced at Heathrow through Intelligent Approach, helping maintain landing rates in strong headwinds.
The Covid pandemic causes an unprecedented collapse in air traffic, falling by more than 90% at the lowest point.
London City is first major airport controlled by remote digital tower.
The biggest geographical airspace change in the UK removing long-established air routes over Scotland.
In a UK first, Systemisation and Free Route Airspace are deployed simultaneously.
The Government confirms the creation of a UK Airspace Design Service.
NATS marks 25 years since becoming a Public Private Partnership, reflecting on a quarter century of investment and operational change.