ATC History

[Diver_Dave]

Hi all,
From a geeky point of view and as a personal interest could someone help with a little information.

I'm looking for a text or just a brief description of timeline for the evoloution of ATC in the UK (Worldwide).

Obviously given how important it is now and the rigid standards employed it's evolved quickly in the last 50 or so years.

What I'm really interested in is how Radar started to be used, given that back in the 50's it was stuill blobs on a screen Vs todays ID's. Also the evoulution of procedures.

If anyone can spart 10 mins to type a post or popint me in the right direction (then possible answer a few dumb questions after) I'd be grateful.

Thanks for your time.
DaveA

[airac]

What I'm really interested in is how Radar started to be used, given that back in the 50's it was stuill blobs on a screen Vs todays ID's. Also the evoulution of procedures.

IfDaveA

Yep, still blobs at our unit :{

RE :- evoulution of procedures, painfully slow, thanks to loads of safety cases, hazard analysis forms committees ,etc etc etc :ugh:


That said it's still good fun though:ok:

[RaRadar]

DaveA
I can't locate the UK link about ATC history at the moment but here are a couple to be going on with:-
http://mit.edu/6.933/www/Fall2000/mode-s/background.html
http://spacecom.grc.nasa.gov/icnsconf/docs/2002/11/Session_E2-1_LaFrey.pdf
Needless to say it was all invented 'here' (does mention Chain Home though). Happy to have a go at any 'dumb questions'! :hmm:
Like airac said it's all very s-l-o-w.
RR

[Lon More]

There's quite a bit about. A Google on "ATC history" will throw up more than you want to know
Archie Teague (http://www.thetracon.com/ATC%20History.htm) for example.

Maybe us oldies should get together and put our memories on tape before it all gets lost?

Vintage ATCO and Heathrow Director probably have quite a few stories to tell.

[jumpuFOKKERjump]

It might be a bit far to visit, but the website has a lot of stuff about such matters in Australia: www.airwaysmuseum.com/

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I hope Lon More isn't suggesting I'm old - these 10 dioptre reading glasses are just fashion accessoies I tell you!!

Sometime back there was an excellent series of articles in GATCO Magazine written by one of the real oldies - Arnold Field I think - on the history of British ATC. Sadly Arnold is no longer with us, as is the case with many of the stalwarts from the "beginning". Of course, there's always the book "Heathrow ATC - the first 50 years" and another dealing with the history of Heathrow, although that is not wholly inclined towards ATC.

[Talkdownman]

Bill Woodruff also wrote some articles in Transmit about the history of UK ATC. I've still got some in my loft, how sad is that. ISTR Arny Field wrote a book about the history of ATC. I have a collection of photos taken at Uxbridge ATCC and Southern ATCC, still trying to identify some of the people. If you were a 'D' Man or an 'A' Man at SATCC roundabout August '59 then please PM me. I'm sure HD will agree that the man to 'tape' is AC, we must sit him down one day along with a sound recording device while he can still string a sentence together. Perhaps HD would like to help me, if his nurse will let him............

[Lon More]

Arnold Field's (http://www.airnav.com/airport/55G) reputation has spread world-wide. Maybe the dickie really was a propeller?;)

[SID East]

Good history section on the RAF CATCS Instrucotrs site www.catcs.co.uk

Hope it helps