LONDON — The UK’s airspace is already a pretty crowded place, even without the imminent influx of drones this Christmas. Each year some 2.2 million flights whisk 220 million passengers into, out of and across the country, all overseen by the watchful eyes of air traffic control services like NATS.
These journeys create a data footprint across the skies, which NATS has visualised in a stunning new time-lapse. Taking radar data from over 7,000 flights, the clip shows a standard day of aviation in the UK, beginning with an aeronautical invasion from the US between midnight and 5am before the islands light up with activity.
By lunchtime, military flights begin over the east coast, RAF jets create awesome 3D neon trails across a training area, and Aberdeen, the world’s busiest heliport, sends flights to oil and gas platforms in the North Sea.
The video also shows some of the 3,500 flights that go into or out of London every day, filling the skies around Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London City. Some shoot straight in; others circle in holding patterns waiting for a runway spot.
“Airspace might be the invisible infrastructure, but it is every bit as important as the airports and runways on the ground,” says Matt Mills, NATS Head of Digital Communications.
NATS has previously released a video showing European flight paths, as well as clips for the North Atlantic and the Middle East.
Europe
North Atlantic
North Atlantic Skies from NATS on Vimeo.
Middle East
Middle East 24 from NATS on Vimeo.
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