Sunday, 16 July, 2000, 12:33 GMT 13:33 UK Air control upgrade halted

It is not clear when the project will be restarted

A #53m project to upgrade the air traffic control system at Prestwick in the west of Scotland has been put on hold indefinitely. National Air traffic Services (Nats) announced on Sunday that it was suspending the scheme to design new software used to direct air traffic out of the UK and over the Atlantic.

The action has been taken while Nats discusses the new software system with contractors Electronic Data Systems (EDS) which has fallen at least two years behind schedule.

There are no safety issues raised by the suspension Nats spokeswoman EDS was at the centre of controversy last week when MPs said the costs of employing the US-based computer giant were spiralling out of control.

The UK Government has a 10-year contract with EDS which has been tasked with redeveloping the way Britain handles its air traffic.

The original deal was #1bn - it has now more than doubled to #2.4bn.

Nats has declined to comment on when work on the Prestwick project would resume.

In a joint statement EDS and Nats said: "Following protracted discussions, work on a project to upgrade the Flight Data Processing System at the Oceanic Area Control Centre at Prestwick has been suspended."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_836000/836014.stm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), July 16, 2000