UK mulls 'radical' shake-up of air traffic control

Air traffic control in the UK could be in for a radical overhaul if research into a new way of locating and tracking aircraft gets the green light.

Radar provider Thales has been given funding to look into using existing TV signals to locate and track aircraft.

Dubbed multi-static primary surveillance radar, the system has several benefits.

Chief among them is the fact that it would free up spectrum for next-generation mobile services.

The two-year research project is being funded by the Technology Strategy Board, a government agency set up to find innovative ways of using technology.

Thales believes that the large number of TV transmitters means the system could provide a more reliable infrastructure than the current one which typically relies on one radar per airport.

From the government's point of view, a new system would mean that they could sell off spectrum currently used by air traffic control.