Safety Topics: Contributing to Safety in ATC

JUST as no new commercial aircraft is allowed to carry fare‐paying passenger on its first flight, no significant change to air traffic control (ATC) services is approved for operation until it has undergone a proper programme of development and test. The Air Traffic Control Evaluation Unit (ATCEU) is located at Bournemouth International Airport and is part of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS). Ever since 1947 it has been actively engaged in helping to ensure that, when new ATC equipments, procedures and systems are introduced to operational service, they will meet the rigorous requirements of a safety‐conscious aviation industry.