This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7636330.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| UK flights hit by computer glitch | UK flights hit by computer glitch |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Flights to and from UK airports are being cancelled and delayed because of a computer problem at the main air traffic control centre at Swanwick. | Flights to and from UK airports are being cancelled and delayed because of a computer problem at the main air traffic control centre at Swanwick. |
| Departures have been suspended and arrivals delayed at Luton airport due to air traffic control restrictions. | Departures have been suspended and arrivals delayed at Luton airport due to air traffic control restrictions. |
| Airports across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are affected by delays of flights using south east of England airspace. | |
| Air traffic controllers said they hoped to restore the system by early evening. | Air traffic controllers said they hoped to restore the system by early evening. |
| The problem occurred at 1600 BST and even if it is rectified soon, the delays and cancellations will have caused a backlog of flights. | |
| Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have reported delays, along with Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow. | |
| National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said engineers were investigating the cause of the computer fault at the London Area Control Centre, which deals with planes flying over the south east of England. | National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said engineers were investigating the cause of the computer fault at the London Area Control Centre, which deals with planes flying over the south east of England. |
| The London Terminal Control Centre, also based in Swanwick which is responsible for landing and departing aircraft, is still operating fully but it is restricting departures due to the additional workload. | The London Terminal Control Centre, also based in Swanwick which is responsible for landing and departing aircraft, is still operating fully but it is restricting departures due to the additional workload. |
| LONDON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL The London air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, has two parts with different responsibilities: The London Area Control Centre (LACC) is responsible for aircraft flying over England and WalesThe London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) handles aircraft approaching and departing south-east England airports Both centres are run by National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which is part-owned by the government and a consortium of airlines Swanwick's troubled history | LONDON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL The London air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire, has two parts with different responsibilities: The London Area Control Centre (LACC) is responsible for aircraft flying over England and WalesThe London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) handles aircraft approaching and departing south-east England airports Both centres are run by National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which is part-owned by the government and a consortium of airlines Swanwick's troubled history |
| Nats said restrictions on take-offs and landings had been introduced to ensure passenger safety while controllers operated manual systems at reduced capacity. | Nats said restrictions on take-offs and landings had been introduced to ensure passenger safety while controllers operated manual systems at reduced capacity. |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the problems stemmed from a glitch with computers which deal with information about flights when they are at higher altitude. | BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the problems stemmed from a glitch with computers which deal with information about flights when they are at higher altitude. |
| Air traffic controllers could still see where planes were, but were finding it difficult to identify them, he said. | Air traffic controllers could still see where planes were, but were finding it difficult to identify them, he said. |
| This has resulted in a reduced flow of aircraft from airports, with planes at Heathrow leaving every two minutes rather than every 90 seconds. | This has resulted in a reduced flow of aircraft from airports, with planes at Heathrow leaving every two minutes rather than every 90 seconds. |
| Flight cancellations | Flight cancellations |
| Luton airport has so far cancelled seven European flights to Budapest, Lisbon, Zurich, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dortmund. | Luton airport has so far cancelled seven European flights to Budapest, Lisbon, Zurich, Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dortmund. |
| Flights from Cardiff International Airport were also temporarily halted by the fault, a spokeswoman said. | Flights from Cardiff International Airport were also temporarily halted by the fault, a spokeswoman said. |
| "All flights are currently grounded, inbound and outbound. We are not entirely sure at the moment when they are going to be back up and running," she added. | "All flights are currently grounded, inbound and outbound. We are not entirely sure at the moment when they are going to be back up and running," she added. |
| A spokesman for Manchester Airport said some European and international flights had been affected as they were routed to fly over south east of England. | A spokesman for Manchester Airport said some European and international flights had been affected as they were routed to fly over south east of England. |
| A spokesman for airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said "many UK airports" would be affected by the problem. | A spokesman for airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, said "many UK airports" would be affected by the problem. |
| "Aircraft continue to land and depart, however the process is slower than normal, which means that inevitably, some flights will be delayed and some will be cancelled," he said. | "Aircraft continue to land and depart, however the process is slower than normal, which means that inevitably, some flights will be delayed and some will be cancelled," he said. |
| "We are working hard with the airlines to minimise disruption and restore the operation as quickly as possible." | "We are working hard with the airlines to minimise disruption and restore the operation as quickly as possible." |
| British Airways says it is cancelling "a few" short haul flights to domestic and European destinations from Heathrow. | British Airways says it is cancelling "a few" short haul flights to domestic and European destinations from Heathrow. |
| Airport authorities have advised passengers to contact their airlines before travelling. | Airport authorities have advised passengers to contact their airlines before travelling. |
| Are you affected by the suspension of flights? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you affected by the suspension of flights? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| If you are at an affected UK airport, you can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you are at an affected UK airport, you can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |