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Air traffic control staff to move Air traffic control staff to move
(1 day later)
Manchester's 35-year-old air traffic control centre is to close in 2010, with 180 staff moving to Scotland.Manchester's 35-year-old air traffic control centre is to close in 2010, with 180 staff moving to Scotland.
The move by National Air Traffic Services (Nats) means only a skeleton staff will remain in the control tower at Manchester Airport. The move by Nats, formerly National Air Traffic Services, will see a new £170m centre in Prestwick, Ayrshire, controlling the general airspace.
All operations - except take-offs and landings - will be controlled from a new £170m Nats control centre in Prestwick, Ayrshire. Staff at Manchester Airport's control tower, who monitor take-offs and landings, remain unaffected.
A Nats spokesman said passengers in Manchester would not be affected. A Nats spokesman said passengers in Manchester would not be affected by the reorganisation.
The air traffic control centre employs 220 staff from around Greater Manchester and Cheshire and 180 have opted for the move north. Others have accepted redundancy or retirement.The air traffic control centre employs 220 staff from around Greater Manchester and Cheshire and 180 have opted for the move north. Others have accepted redundancy or retirement.
'End of era''End of era'
Once the move is completed, Nats' centre in Prestwick and its equivalent in Swanwick, Hampshire, will control all UK airspace.Once the move is completed, Nats' centre in Prestwick and its equivalent in Swanwick, Hampshire, will control all UK airspace.
David Harrison, who manages air traffic in Manchester, said the switch would improve the safety of air traffic in the UK.David Harrison, who manages air traffic in Manchester, said the switch would improve the safety of air traffic in the UK.
"We're immensely proud of the safety record we have in Manchester, in fact all this can do is enhance it."We're immensely proud of the safety record we have in Manchester, in fact all this can do is enhance it.
"What [the move] is going to allow us to do is give us a bigger and better environment and new technology and platforms to operate from."What [the move] is going to allow us to do is give us a bigger and better environment and new technology and platforms to operate from.
"It [the current centre] has reached the end of an era for us and its life.""It [the current centre] has reached the end of an era for us and its life."
The Manchester centre currently controls airspace from Norwich up to the borders of Scotland, but this area will be split between Prestwick and Swanwick in the new year.The Manchester centre currently controls airspace from Norwich up to the borders of Scotland, but this area will be split between Prestwick and Swanwick in the new year.