NATS has developed a new system of aircraft speed limits. Martin Rolfe, the head of NATS, stated yesterday that in the future passengers can expect to arrive on time as a matter of course. The new system works by introducing a variable speed limit. If there is risk of congestion UK air traffic controllers will alert aircraft up to 350 miles away and tell them to reduce their speed so they arrive to land at a precise time. NATS is working with air traffic controllers in Ireland, France and Holland to control the arrival of planes, and will soon introduce Scandinavian controllers to the system as well to extend the 350 mile range to 550 miles and then to 1,000 miles.
The result should be that flights will arrive more reliably without delays, fly at a higher altitude, waste less fuel and make less noise over homes, meaning an end to stacking. This has been a long time in coming and it is significant news for all airlines using Heathrow Airport and it could in the event save IAG a huge amount of money through reduced fuel costs. This system will most likely be watch very closely by the Americans and Chinese.