Gander Control
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In Gander, air traffic in North Atlantic airspace is controlled by NAV CANADA’s Gander Automated Air Traffic System (GAATS). GAATS is an oceanic air traffic management system that automatically processes flight data and provides air traffic controllers with a radar-like picture of traffic in oceanic (non-radar) airspace. GAATS also provides automatic waypoint reports, and use of Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) which is text-based messaging for such routine requests as altitude changes. GAATS brings significant safety and efficiency benefits to North Atlantic airspace.
North Atlantic airspace is the busiest oceanic airspace in the world with about 1,300 flights a day, most of which are large commercial carriers. More than half the flights follow the North Atlantic Tracks but about 40% are 'random', with flight plans not on tracks. NAV CANADA shares control of this airspace with NATS, its counterpart in the UK.
The GAATS technology is now used by the UK NATS’ Shanwick Oceanic Control oceanic system – called SAATS -- with NAV CANADA and the UK ANS provider collaborating on flight management for the whole of North Atlantic airspace.
The Gander ACC is responsible for controlling aircraft in the western half of the north Atlantic oceanic airspace, The Gander Oceanic airspace is bounded to the north by the Icelandic Control Center, on the east by the Prestwick, Scotland, Control Center, to the south by the Portuguese control center in the Azores, and finally to the Southwest by the New York Area Control Center.
GAATS traffic management capabilities are achieved through the tight integration between air traffic, airspace and weather models. Operational flexibility and workload balancing are further enhanced through dynamic sectorization.
Specifically, GAATS gives controllers increased situational awareness by having on-screen access to data from a variety of sources, as well as a visual display of the aircraft positions, much as a radar controller would. And among the many features available, controllers can use this new computing and display power to view projected routes and their timelines, and to help avoid potential conflicts.
