Airport plans new control tower

MANCHESTER Airport is to build a new, multi-million pound air traffic control tower.

The 60m tower, next to the north fire station, should be completed in 2013 and will replace the existing air traffic centre which was built 40 years ago. The airport said it will be the second tallest in the UK.

Costing more than £10m, it will house a control room, an approach radar section and surveillance and communication equipment.

Tim McDermott, the airport’s operations director, said: “This new air traffic control tower will offer 21st century facilities that will be a fantastic new addition to the Manchester skyline.

“It will further strengthen our great relationship with NATS [National Air Traffic Services] and I am very pleased to be working together to create what will be an iconic building.”

NATS will manage the equipment and run the tower’s 24-hour operation while Manchester Airport will own and maintain the building.

* Meanwhile, construction group Costain has been handed the £18.6m contract to revamp Manchester Airport’s main runway.

The work on Runway 1 will not be completed until September but the company said there would be no disruption to flights.

The airport plans to use its second runway for all flights when necessary. Costain has also been awarded an £8m contract for minor works at Heathrow.
 
Chief executive Andrew Wyllie said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these contracts for Manchester and London Heathrow airports. The contracts represent significant investment in the UK’s infrastructure and will help the airports meet the growing needs of passengers in the future.”