Building a 21st Century airspace route network
How we can modernise UK airspace through the future airspace strategy.
Thank you for that introduction.
It바카라 사이트™s a pleasure to be here.
And I바카라 사이트™d like to thank the for inviting me to speak today (30 April 2014).
The last Transport Secretary to have this honour was Philip Hammond in the summer of 2011.
Britain was still firmly in recession.
And we바카라 사이트™d only just started to make inroads on the record public deficit.
I바카라 사이트™m pleased to say, things have changed a bit since then.
By sticking to the Chancellor바카라 사이트™s fiscal programme, Britain바카라 사이트™s economy is today recovering faster than Germany, Japan or the US.
And 3 times faster than the independent predicted at last year바카라 사이트™s budget.
Unemployment claims have fallen by almost a quarter.
And we바카라 사이트™re paying off our debts.
In fact over the coming year, we expect to reach a key milestone.
By cutting the deficit to half the level we inherited.
But these are still early days.
We haven바카라 사이트™t yet secured the long-term and balanced recovery that is this government바카라 사이트™s biggest priority.
So we바카라 사이트™re continuing to do everything in our power to create jobs, boost growth, and make Britain more competitive.
And there are few better engines for growth than aviation.
An industry that contributes £11 billion to our economy.
Carries 2.3 million tonnes of freight a year.
And employs around 220,000 people in the UK.
There바카라 사이트™s no question that if we want to build a strong, lasting recovery, then aviation must continue to flourish.
A vibrant aviation industry is crucial to our prosperity.
And while UK airports are now at their busiest since 2008.
We also know that our competitors will overtake us if we fail to plan for our future capacity needs.
Maintaining our hub status is absolutely pivotal.
That바카라 사이트™s why we바카라 사이트™ve set up the independent Airports Commission.
The commission바카라 사이트™s interim report 바카라 사이트“ delivered at the end of last year 바카라 사이트“ is a significant step towards our ultimate goal.
A long-term, sustainable aviation programme that will meet the UK바카라 사이트™s future capacity and connectivity needs.
And we바카라 사이트™ll be responding to the commission바카라 사이트™s interim package of measures in June.
But the challenge for the future goes beyond airport capacity.
Led by the CAA, and the Senior Delivery Group, this is an industry that recognises the need for change and investment.
For example, if we want to remain a world aviation leader.
We need to modernise some of the ageing systems and technologies that make up our aviation infrastructure.
In particular, our airspace route network.
And this is an area where we바카라 사이트™re making real progress.
Although Britain is a small country, we are one of the best connected nations in the world.
That means our airspace is some of the busiest and most complex in the world.
The airspace design system we use for air traffic has proved to be robust and enduring.
And we use it well.
But quite simply, it바카라 사이트™s out of date.
Much of the structure was established before 1970.
Although its origins go back to the 1950s.
When the vast majority of flights were propeller-powered.
And the jet era was just beginning.
So while the aircraft from that period have long since been scrapped or consigned to museums.
The airspace system lives on.
Now of course some parts of the air traffic infrastructure have been updated.
, for example, are justifiably proud of their recent achievements 바카라 사이트“ as I discovered when I visited the state of the art control centre at Swanwick.
In March, for example, NATS recorded its second lowest ever monthly figure for delays.
Although it handled 0.6% more traffic, delays attributable to NATS totalled just 329 minutes.
But the shortcomings in older parts of the system are increasingly evident.
Hardly surprising when the number of passengers travelling through UK airports has increased a hundredfold since 1950.
We also have increasing competition for space in our skies from military, police and emergency aircraft.
And from general aviation and business flights.
Frankly, the teams that manage and operate the airspace system do a phenomenal job in the circumstances.
But I바카라 사이트™m sure they would agree that we can바카라 사이트™t continue relying on the current airspace system indefinitely.
The reality is that we have a mid-20th century airspace network which 바카라 사이트“ while safe 바카라 사이트“ is neither resilient nor efficient enough to meet our 21st century needs.
It means that airspace users are unable to benefit from expensive onboard technologies like performance-based navigation.
And the lack of flexibility means that even days of moderately bad weather can lead to delays.
To achieve greater efficiency and capacity in our airspace network, we must embrace the latest technology.
Not just around London, but right across the country.
So the CAA has been working with the industry to develop its future airspace strategy.
This is a flagship programme that provides the blueprint for a modern airspace system.
Not only overcoming the particular challenges we face in Britain.
But also setting the standard for other countries to follow.
Of course the UK does not sit in isolation.
The management of our airspace is influenced by traffic from the North Atlantic and continental Europe.
As a key part of the European air traffic management network.
We act with Ireland as the interface between the EU and North Atlantic.
The European Commission wants to improve the organisation of airspace through the single European sky (SES) initiative.
There are several ways in which we are working to implement SES regulations.
We have established a functional airspace block with Ireland to optimise service provision in our airspace.
This has already realised £57 million of savings through more direct routings of aircraft.
And it바카라 사이트™s expected to save almost £250 million by the end of 2019.
We바카라 사이트™re developing a performance plan to improve efficiency and capacity, while maintaining safety.
And we바카라 사이트™re taking part in the SESAR project to improve air navigation.
Until recently, much of this work was conceptual.
Now the focus is shifting to implementing a more modern and efficient airspace control network.
And we believe the future airspace strategy presents a model of how this can be achieved.
So what does it mean in practice?
Well, all aircraft flying to and from London will use performance-based navigation techniques.
This will substantially increase their navigational accuracy.
And will help us manage our airspace far more effectively.
We바카라 사이트™ll be able to separate aircraft by time rather than distance.
And we바카라 사이트™ll create a common transitional altitude in the UK.
By 2020, it바카라 사이트™s predicted that these changes will save around £200 million in fuel, reduce COâ‚‚ emissions and minimise delays.
Airborne holding over London should also be significantly reduced.
Cutting pollution, fuel usage, and flight times.
The new strategy will also allow local communities to have some say in how airspace is managed.
Longer term, it will be essential for the delivery of any new runways or improvements to airport capacity without any negative impact on other airports.
Indeed, the Airports Commission in its interim report stressed the importance of the future airspace strategy, particularly in the south east.
The focus now is for the Civil Aviation Authority 바카라 사이트“ through its Senior Delivery Group 바카라 사이트“ to implement the strategy as soon as possible.
With representatives from the airports, airlines, NATS, government, and the CAA, the Senior Delivery Group has a vital role to play in overseeing the transformation of our airspace.
Today I바카라 사이트™ve just focused on one key area of our modernisation programme for aviation.
But look around the country, and there바카라 사이트™s a huge amount of other work going on.
Many airports - including Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh 바카라 사이트“ are improving terminals and passenger facilities.
We바카라 사이트™re investing in better rail links to airports.
From Crossrail and HS2, to the Northern Hub in Manchester, and a new £500 million link between the West Country and Heathrow.
And the Airports Commission is building a case that will unlock the debate on runway capacity.
So let me finish with this message.
Although UK aviation has suffered from stagnation, underinvestment and lack of consensus.
Today, the industry바카라 사이트™s prospects are brighter than they have been for years.
As our economy recovers, we will be ready to meet rising demand for air travel, with a sustainable plan for growth.
And by working in partnership with the industry, we will ensure that Britain remains a global aviation leader.
Thank you.