UK NATS launches AFPEx Lite service for small general aviation airfields

TIN news:   UK air traffic services company NATS has introduced a new service, AFPEx Lite, which can enable small general aviation airfields to file and receive flight plans.
AFPEx Lite is particularly designed for small airfields that want to send and receive up to 200 messages each month.
NATS Data Solutions head Mark Balsdon said: "Following the strength of feedback, we recognised that we needed to find a way of ensuring smaller airfields have access to AFPEx to allow them to continue to offer the services their customers have come to expect."

"We recognised that we needed to find a way of ensuring smaller airfields have access to AFPEx."

The new service offers elements of the full AFPEx service that include the ability to send and receive flight plans, along with accessing a help desk between 9am and 5pm local time on all seven days a week.
Mark Balsdon added: "Private pilots can continue to use AFPEx for free, while smaller airfields can now access the great value Lite service, leaving the full service for high volume commercial airfields and commercial only users."
Slated to be available from next month, the AFPEx Lite service will be offered by NATS at a price of £500 per annum.
AFPEx Lite services have been launched by NATS after it took decision last year to begin charging users for the original AFPEx service following a review with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).