Originally Posted by
HEATHROW DIRECTOR
When I worked at Heathrow (long ago) the ATIS was recorded by the Approach Supervisors Assistant from the Sup's desk. One of our ATCAs was totally deranged and one Christmas he gave the ATIS broadcasts his own version of the ICAO alphabet, which resulted in an Iberia flight saying "Heathrow Approach, Iberia 512 approaching Ockham with information Fandabidozi" Great fun and the pilots joined in too
Christmas Day 1969, my first year as an ATCA at Drayton; listened to Bovingdon VOR ATIS and it was being sung to the tune of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'!! One or two pilots checked in on Heathrow Approach using the same tune too eg
'Hark the Bealine four eight three - ee
Greetings to the ATC
Coming down to six zero - o
we have information Dee'