![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/no-one-knows-when-air-traffic-control-chaos-will-be-fixed-warns-ba-pilot/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1_Exclu-tagged-pic.jpg&description=An issue with NATS air traffic controlling system has led to mass delays across the UK on Bank Holiday Monday, with British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair flights among those impacted A British Airways pilot has warned that no one knows when UK air space will re-open again following a mass air traffic control system failure as he explains what could be behind the chaos that has seen thousands of holidaymakers grounded. The pilot, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Mirror issues with NATS air traffic control system had caused delays of around 700 minutes - or nearly 12 hours - for most airlines operating in the UK. If not resolved, the length of the delays means thousands of holidaymakers coming back into the UK or jetting off today will be grounded until at least tomorrow. A big fault with a programme that automatically processes flight plans has meant every single journey needs to be approved manually - something the system is not set up to do with any speed, the Mirror has been told. "No one knows when it is going to get fixed. They're having to manually process every flight plan, instead of the system doing it for them," the BA pilot explained. "When you put a flight plan in for a flight it gets approved automatically, as long as it's compliant with restrictions. Instead of system automatically approving it they all have to be processed. A person has to physically do that. It is a big backlog." Have you been caught up in the chaos? Email webtravel@reachplc.com Because pilots and flight crews can only be ready to fly for a certain amount of time legally, many will be unable to work on their allotted services today unless the problem is resolved quickly. "Aircraft will be out of position for tomorrow and the knock-on effect will be felt for a while. But it just takes a couple of cancellations to get things back in order," the pilot added. "As soon as it gets fixed, all the flight plans will be processed immediately. It can be fixed as quickly as it is broken. In){kind=link}
An issue with NATS air traffic controlling system has led to mass delays across the UK on Bank Holiday Monday, with British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair flights among those impacted
A British Airways pilot has warned that no one knows when UK air space will re-open again following a mass air traffic control system failure as he explains what could be behind the chaos that has seen thousands of holidaymakers grounded.
The pilot, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Mirror issues with NATS air traffic control system had caused delays of around 700 minutes – or nearly 12 hours – for most airlines operating in the UK. If not resolved, the length of the delays means thousands of holidaymakers coming back into the UK or jetting off today will be grounded until at least tomorrow.
A big fault with a programme that automatically processes flight plans has meant every single journey needs to be approved manually – something the system is not set up to do with any speed, the Mirror has been told. “No one knows when it is going to get fixed. They’re having to manually process every flight plan, instead of the system doing it for them,” the BA pilot explained. “When you put a flight plan in for a flight it gets approved automatically, as long as it’s compliant with restrictions. Instead of system automatically approving it they all have to be processed. A person has to physically do that. It is a big backlog.”
Have you been caught up in the chaos? Email webtravel@reachplc.com