Work on Manchester Airport’s new air traffic control tower is underway, with a sod-cutting ceremony to mark the start of the new build.
The new tower will be 60 metres high and the £16 million project is due for completion in spring 2013.
Once completed, the tower will offer 360-degree panoramic views of Manchester airport. It will house a new visual control room, an approach radar section, and surveillance and communication equipment.
Paul Jones is Manchester General Manager of NATS – the air traffic control provider. He said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Manchester Airport Group on the fitting out of their new tower.
“We are already planning ahead to next November when we will be able to start fitting out the tower with the 70 different systems that we require – from radar processors to communications equipment, Electronic Flight Progress System (EFPS) and plasma touch displays.”
Manchester Airport has set up a time-lapse camera overlooking the construction site to monitor progress of the project, which will be available to the public.
The camera will take a photo every 15 minutes throughout the entire project. Every week a one minute video will be available for the public watch via the airport’s YouTube channel.
“Now the contractors have been announced and work has commenced, this film will be a great way to monitor the progress of the new tower build,” said Andrew Harrison, Manchester Airport’s Managing Director.
“It’s a large construction project for Manchester that will create jobs in the process and we are keen to show the benefits of the project to a wider audience across our region. I know that it will be an iconic addition to the Manchester skyline.”
Manchester Airport’s current air traffic control tower is more than 40 years old, and offers limited views of the far end of the airport’s runway.
