§ 41. Mr. Corfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he estimates the further automation and the use of computers in air traffic control will increase the number of air movements which can be handled in the London terminal approach area in the near future; and what effect such improvements are estimated to have on the need for a Third London Airport.
§ Mr. William RodgersIt has been estimated that by the use of a computer-based radar system to assist the sequencing of air traffic in the intermediate approaches to Heathrow, an improvement of about 10 per cent. in the landing rate at the airport might be achieved. A feasibility study is proceeding but a proved system would not be possible before 1974. Depending on the success of the trials, saturation point at Heathrow might then be postponed by up to two years.