page_title: NATS Holdings
section_title: Airports
hierarchical_section_title: NATS Holdings / Operations / Airports
caption_attribution_description: English: Edinburgh International Airport. The Air Traffic Control Tower. It was officially opened on the 7th November 2005. The £11m building took 15 months to build and stands 57 metres high.
context_page_description: NATS Holdings, formerly National Air Traffic Services and commonly referred to as NATS, is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom. It inherited the traditions of UK air traffic control, which was the world's first air traffic control regime. It provides en-route air traffic control services to flights within the UK flight information regions and the Shanwick Oceanic Control Area, and provides air traffic control services to 14 UK airports.
  The workforce of NATS is mainly made up of air traffic controllers, air traffic control engineers, air traffic services assistants and science technical analytical and research staff. Administrative and support staff make up the remainder of the 4,500 or so employees of NATS.
  NATS is split into two main service provision companies: NATS En-Route PLC and NATS Services Ltd.
  NERL is the sole provider of civilian en-route air traffic control over the UK and is regulated by the CAA which, for example, determines the charges NERL can make. NERL is funded by Eurocontrol route charges for the provision of air traffic services.
context_section_description: The airports service line provides air traffic services at 14 UK airports:
  London Heathrow Airport
  Southampton Airport
  Aberdeen Airport
  London City Airport
  London Luton Airport
  London Stansted Airport
  Cardiff Airport
  Bristol Airport
  Farnborough Airfield
  Gibraltar Airport
  Manchester Airport
  Belfast International Airport
  Belfast City Airport
  Glasgow Airport
  NATS has also won contracts to provide a part of the air traffic control services at certain airports including:
  London Biggin Hill Airport
  Sumburgh Airport
  RAF St Athan
  NATS also provides services to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), via Qinetiq, for air traffic and range air control services at a number of UK ranges, including:
  Aberporth
  Hebrides (Deep Sea Range)
  Larkhill
  West Freugh
  NATS also provides services to the MoD's Military Aviation Authority.
  NATS also provide an ATC Engineering service at Belfast City Airport
  Aberdeen NSL provides air traffic services on behalf of NERL to offshore helicopters operating primarily from Aberdeen, Shetland (Sumburgh & Scatsta), Humberside, Norwich and North Denes.
caption: Edinburgh Airport ATC tower
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