The UK’s airspace is about to change forever

Plans have been revealed to modernise the UK’s outdated airspace in the hope to cut emissions and speed up routes. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it has launched a consultation on a proposal to establish a UK Airspace Design Service, which would consist of aviation experts working with airports to improve the routes flown by planes. The plans are in place to create a system that’s ‘fit for the future’ while creating quicker routes, easing delays and reducing harmful emissions.<br/>The new body would start by reviewing London’s airspace, which is the busiest in the UK. Much of how the UK’s airspace is used dates back to the 1950s, when there were fewer flights and aircraft navigated using ground-based beacons. DfT officials believe enabling planes to use modern navigation technologies will boost efficiency, such as by reducing the need for aircraft to enter holding patterns before receiving permission to land at busy airports. Aviation minister Mike Kane said: “UK airspace is one of the nation’s biggest invisible assets, but it’s been stuck in the past – a 1950s pilot would find that little has changed. “Our once-in-a-generation creation of a UK Airspace Design Service will not only drive forward airspace modernisation and create a system that’s fit for the future, but it will help create quicker routes, ease delays and reduce harmful emissions – making air travel a better experience for all.”<br/>