Shanwick Oceanic Control

Shanwick is the air traffic control (ATC) name given to the area of international airspace which lies above the northeast part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Shanwick Oceanic Control Area abuts Reykjavik Oceanic Control Area to the north, Gander Oceanic Control Area to the west and Santa Maria Oceanic Control Area to the south. Shanwick also has eastern boundaries with the Scottish, Shannon, London, Brest and Madrid domestic flight information regions. Prior to 1966, the United Kingdom and Ireland both provided ATC and communications services in the same area of the North Atlantic. The air/ground communication station at Ballygirreen, near Shannon, worked to the ATC centre at Shannon and the communication station at Birdlip, Gloucestershire worked to the ATC centre at Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.