Nats takes on directing planes to London City

London City Airport will send a live feed from 14 high-definition cameras via fibre cables to a new operations room at National Air Traffic Services in Swanwick.

The airport will decommission its traditional tower in 2019, meaning aircraft will be directed 80 miles away by controllers watching the live footage.

The technology has been tested in Sweden and Ireland.

Nats airports director Mike Stoller said: ‘Digital towers are going to transform the way air traffic services are provided at airports by providing real safety, operational and efficiency benefits.

‘We do see this as being a growing market place.’