NATS, the U.K.-based global provider of air traffic services, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Japan. The MOU will see NATS and MRI explore opportunities for collaboration on various air traffic management (ATM) projects. These are likely to include air traffic flow management in Japan and the Asia Pacific region; and increasing capacity and optimization of ground operations at a number of airports. MRI has a wide-ranging ATM strategy that encompasses both long- and short-term projects in Japan. These include demand forecasting and air traffic control optimization. Over the past two years, NATS has helped redesign the airspace in Singapore and Hong Kong, boosted airspace capacity in Qatar, and secured the Aena air traffic control tower contract in Spain.