While there has always been a need for UK industry to meet the needs of its global client base through research and innovation, home-grown opportunities can provide a good test bed for trialling innovative technological solutions that have applications in the global market place.

In the Air Traffic Management domain for instance, the highly congested skies above the South East of England are indirectly driving research into innovative methodologies to keep the system functioning safely, efficiently and with minimal environmental impact. However this situation requires both a technological and regulatory response. The latter is currently being developed within the context of the CAA’s UK Future Airspace Strategy (FAS). FAS is a strategic framework that will enable ANSPs to create an airspace structure that is fit for the future, effective, efficient and ensures UK meets its international obligations (although it is not an implementation plan).

At a broader level the UK Coalition government is currently consulting on developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation to guide planning in investment and technology development against the backdrop of the stringent environmental drivers associated with noise, local air quality and climate change. These needs will have to be set against those of a modern transport infrastructure (which emphatically includes aviation), in particular the need to allow scope for large businesses to compete and expand; reducing the need for businesses, such as BA, to contemplate overseas expansion, for example.

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