PSA provided mechanical design services for the National Air Traffic Services control centre in Swanwick, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services. Each year it handles around 2.2 million flights and 250 million passengers travelling in UK airspace. The project involved modifying existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to improve comfort conditions for air traffic controllers. Our team realigned the distribution for the Fan Assisted Terminal Unit and optimised grill placement based on Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis of the sub-floor air distribution. The redesigned system included updated Building Management System controls, allowing staff to make environmental adjustments as needed.
CLIENT: National Air Traffic Services
LOCATION: Swanwick, Southampton
SERVICES: Mechanical Design
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
The National Air Traffic Services facility in Swanwick serves as the nerve centre for UK air traffic control operations. With controllers responsible for the safe movement of millions of aircraft, maintaining optimal working conditions is paramount. The client required modifications to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems within the existing control centre to enhance the comfort and wellbeing of controllers.
Given the critical nature of air traffic control work, where staff vigilance directly impacts flight safety, creating a consistent and comfortable environment was essential. Controllers require regular breaks to maintain concentration, and uncomfortable temperature variations or unwanted draughts could compromise their focus. The client needed a solution that would provide reliable climate control whilst allowing for localised adjustments according to operational needs.
OUR SOLUTION
PSA delivered a comprehensive mechanical design solution focused on optimising the control centre’s thermal environment. Working alongside contractors who completed a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, we assessed the sub-floor void air distribution patterns for both heating and cooling. This analysis informed our strategic redesign of the Fan Assisted Terminal Unit system. Our team:
- Reconfigured the floor grill placement to eliminate unwanted draughts while maintaining consistent temperature control
- Realigned air distribution systems to support the new grill layout
- Integrated updated Building Management System (BMS) controls to allow for user adjustments
- Balanced airflow requirements to ensure heat properly percolates through the floor grills
- Designed the system to accommodate varying occupancy and operational patterns throughout the facility
THE OUTCOME
The completed project delivered a significantly improved working environment for air traffic controllers. Staff now enjoy consistent thermal comfort without disruptive draughts, supporting their critical focus and vigilance throughout long shifts. The intuitive BMS controls give operators the flexibility to make environmental adjustments as needed.
