Hi there,
I've recently unearthed a video containing a copy of a BBC documentary about the UK ATC system back in the eighties. As an aviation enthusiast (in particular with ATC and such like) I kept it and have been able to convert it into "digital" format.
The documentary was entitled "Struggling for Control" and was broadcast in 1988 (I think). It covered some of the shortfalls of the equipment in use at the time, and the concerns over safety at that time. There are some great shots of the West Drayton facility and the systems in use. A short domestic flight from EGBB to EGKK (Brymon Airways) is followed from the ATC perspective to show the complexity involved behind the scenes and how some of the issues at the time were contributary factors to an airprox within the London TMA.
I was wondering if any of the ATC folk here on PPRuNe had any memories of the film being made, or any other stories from around that time.
I've grabbed a few stills from the documentary here...
Regards,
Sean