“The anticipated second phase offers an opportunity to deploy the latest technologies. “Heathrow’s importance to both the UK and global aviation demands an industry-leading level of operational resilience.” Pete Glass, NATS General Manager for Air Traffic Services at Heathrow, emphasized the significance of a robust air traffic control operation. Their goal is to achieve this transition within a few hours, if necessary. While the original VCF has never been utilized in an actual incident, NATS’ control tower team regularly conducts exercises simulating the closure of the main tower and transferring operations to the contingency facility. She stated, “Investing in a state-of-the-art Virtual Contingency Facility with NATS provides us with confidence that passenger journeys will still proceed even during unexpected operational challenges.” Photo: Wallpaper Flare Preparedness and Unprecedented Resilience Kelly Stone, Head of Airport Operations at Heathrow, emphasized the importance of operational resilience in the face of disruptions. Ultra-high-definition cameras will provide real-time visuals to controllers, ensuring seamless airport operations. NATS and Heathrow are jointly striving to elevate the VCF’s capabilities, ultimately achieving 100% operational capacity in the project’s second phase. Initially matching the operational capacity of its predecessor. With the latest advancements, the new state-of-the-art VCF will be situated at the airport itself. Designed as a windowless replica of the primary control tower, it enabled the airport to function at approximately 70% capacity when needed. The original VCF, established in 2009 at an undisclosed location off the airport, was a pioneering concept worldwide. Subsequently reinforcing the airport’s ability to handle disruptions effectively. Heathrow’s significant investment is replacing the existing backup ‘tower’ in the new facility. The groundbreaking Virtual Contingency Facility (VCF), set to become operational in 2025, is already underway. Photo: Wallpaper Flare London Heathrow New ATC Backup Tower
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