FASI-N ScTMA

Overview

Welcome to the NATS (NERL) Scottish Airspace Modernisation consultation space

From this page, you can explore the NATS proposed changes under Scottish Airspace Modernisation, learn about the organisations sponsoring the changes, understand the expected benefits and impacts on Scottish airspace, and share your views by responding to the consultation.

The consultation will run from 00:01 Monday 20 October 2025 to Sunday 25 January 2026, closing at 23:59 on the final day.

Click the link or below to access the consultation response portal (tip: review the content below to help shape your response).

Airspace modernisation overview

Much of the UK’s airspace was designed in the 1950s for aircraft that no longer fly. Since then, the number of flights has increased dramatically – from fewer than 1 million a year to nearly 2.5 million in 2024, with forecasts of up to 3 million by 2030. Yet the structure of our skies hasn’t kept pace, meaning today’s aircraft can’t always fly as efficiently as they could.

To address this, the UK Government is leading a major programme called the Airspace Modernisation Strategy. This aims to redesign the routes aircraft use for arrivals and departures, as well as higher-level airspace. The goal is to help flights operate more precisely, efficiently and reliably — reducing delays, fuel use and emissions.

Changes are being developed by UK airports and NATS En-Route (NERL), with each organisation responsible for redesigning the airspace they manage. NERL (henceforth referred to as ‘NATS’) is leading the work on higher-level airspace, while airports are focusing on the routes below 7,000ft.

To ensure a joined-up approach, NATS and UK airports are working together to coordinate these changes. This collaborative approach helps avoid fragmented updates and ensures that the benefits are realised across the network.

Each change is delivered through an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP), which follows the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) CAP1616 process. This includes public consultation and regulatory approval, ensuring transparency and giving communities, airlines and other stakeholders a chance to have their say.

What’s happening in Scotland?

In Scotland, airspace modernisation is being led by Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport and NATS.

Edinburgh and Glasgow are redesigning the airspace from ground level up to 7,000 feet – the section used for take-offs and landings. NATS is responsible for integrating these redesigned routes into the wider UK network at and above 7,000 feet, helping to deliver smoother journeys and greater efficiency across the system.

This work forms part of the Scottish Airspace Modernisation program, as outlined in the Airspace Change Masterplan. The cluster includes three linked Airspace Change Proposals (ACPs):

• This ACP: Future Airspace Strategy Implementation North (FASI-N) – Scottish Terminal Manoeuvring Area (ScTMA) (ACP-2019-74)
• FASIN-Glasgow Airport Airspace (ACP-2019-46)
• FASIN-Edinburgh Airport Airspace (ACP-2019-32)

The consultations for these three ACPs are being run simultaneously.  Information of the Scottish Airspace Modernisation is available here.

The aim of the programme is to modernise the airspace around the Scottish Terminal Control Area (ScTMA) (see fig 1) in line with the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy. This will be achieved using Performance Based Navigation (PBN), which helps resolve routine flight conflicts, increase capacity, and reduce fuel burn and CO₂e emissions.

Figure 1:  Lateral extent of the NERL sponsored ScTMA ACP changes (Red Shape) and the extant ScTMA (Orange Shape).

Consultation

Scottish Airspace Modernisation has now reached the third stage of the CAA’s airspace change process: consultation. This means we, NATS, are sharing detailed information about the viable design options and inviting feedback from all interested parties.

All proposed changes for NATS’ ACP relate to airspace at and above 7,000ft. In line with government guidance, mitigation of noise impacts to stakeholders on the ground are not the priority at this altitude (see altitude based priorities, pages 17-18 of the Department for Transport Air Navigation Guidance 2017). Instead, environmental assessment focuses on the impact of  CO₂e emissions.

Earlier stages of the process (CAP1616) have outlined how the design options were developed (here and here). We are presenting a single option for consultation:

• Option 1: Introduce a modernised ATS route structure, including improved connections to Standard Instrument Departure (SID) endpoints, Standard Arrival Routes (STARs), and holding facilities. This is NATS’ preferred option.

A baseline option of the extant airspace is presented within the documentation below for comparison. 

The proposed changes would create a modernised route network between the airport-led changes and Free Route Airspace (from 7,000 to 25,500 feet, or FL70–FL255). These proposals are aligned with the UK Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

NATS’ consultation runs simultaneous with the Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport’s consultations. Information about Scottish Airspace Modernisation and links to the airport sponsors’ consultations are available here.

The consultation will run from 00:01 on 20 October 2025 to 23:59 on 25 January 2026—a period of 14 weeks.

You can view and download the full consultation document below and submit your response using the questionnaire linked at the bottom of this page.

Consultation Document

The NERL (NATS) ScTMA airspace change proposal involves amending the interface with Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport (the point at which NATS’ airspace and the airports’ airspace meet), in line with their proposed changes. It also introduces amendments to the arrival routes serving Glasgow Prestwick Airport. 

Full details of these changes are outlined in the following annexes.

Annex A: Edinburgh Airport Interface

Annex B: Glasgow Airport Interface

Annex C: Glasgow Prestwick Airport Interface

In addition, the following two Annexes support the consultation document by providing further detail:

• Annex D outlines route information on the current airspace
• Annex E presents an overview of the proposed Airspace Development

Annex D: Current Airspace

Annex E: Option Development

Supporting materials

The following resources are available to help you take part in the consultation:

• FAQs document – answers to frequently asked questions about the proposed changes.
• Feedback questionnaire – where you can submit your views on the proposals.
• Links to supporting materials – including technical documents and background information.

Implementation timeline

If the proposal is approved by the CAA, implementation of the airspace change will occur not before Q1 2027. (Note:  The expected year for implementing the proposed changes (currently 2027) could shift. This depends on the UK Government’s priorities for airspace modernisation and the capacity of the aviation industry to manage the introduction of major changes safely and efficiently.)

Why your views matter

This consultation is your opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. We want to ensure that anyone who could be affected – positively or negatively – is aware of the proposals and has the chance to provide feedback.  Your responses to our consultation will help shape the final design.

Our engagement so far has focused on:

• Reaching the right audiences and giving everyone the opportunity to respond.
• Providing clear, detailed consultation materials to support informed responses.
• Ensuring the consultation period is appropriate.

We want to get your feedback on our proposed Option 1: Modernised ATS Route Structure including providing connectivity to SID End points, STARs and holding facilities. (NATS Preferred Option).