NATS OpenAir

NATS OpenAir Consultation

https://www.nats.aero/nats-openair-consultation/

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) is proposing a new system of information gathering to know who is in the airspace. This is especially relevant for new users (drones/RPAS and eVTOL) as existing users will need to integrate with drones in future.

Read an FAQ here.

The NATS system is called OpenAir and clear information is available via the link above.

NATS invites us to respond to their consultation. You can do that via the same link above.

Though aimed principally at new users (drones, remotely piloted aerial systems, eVTOL etc.), the proposal may impact on existing users such as us microlighters, particularly regarding charging fees to access airspace.

New users will be required to demonstrate that they can detect and be detected. The NATS OpenAir system offers a solution to new users who would request control of a local airspace zone and then be responsible for providing an airspace service in that zone.

NATS would charge the user controlling the zone. It could be that the user controlling the zone would then impose a charge to an airspace user. In short, we may be charged a fee for entering the local airspace zone.