EGNM. Leeds Bradford Airport Control Tower.

[Mooncrest]

If anybody (outside Yorkshire) is interested the above-mentioned structure is fifty years old this year. Built as part of the new terminal, she was commissioned in the summer of 1967, about a year before the terminal was opened. In 1984, she received lots of new glass in the form of secondary glazing for the VCR and a new, 'glass wall' for the floor below (now the radar room). Apart from the glass and various internal configuration changes over the decades, she isn't that much different from fifty years ago. I hope she lasts another fifty years - we shall see.

[obwan]

Leeds Bradford Airport Control Tower.

Surely it's an IT.

[Mooncrest]

Just exercising poetic licence, obwan.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

So, is someone going to write a book on 50 yrs of ATC at EGNM?

[Mooncrest]

HD. Fifty years is just the age of the current tower. Its predecessor was built on top of either the old RAF Officers' mess or a hangar - I can't remember which. Either way there has been a licensed ATC service at EGNM since at least the 1950s. It would be good to see a book by a past ATC bod though.

[chevvron]

Fairoaks 'tower' is the original one built c1938.
Farnborough had a 'watch office' from c1922 until 1943 when it was replaced by a control tower, but this was found to be inadequate so was replaced 3 years later by another building a few feet away which lasted until 2002 (with a re-modelling-different VCR-in the late '50s), when it was replaced by the present building and the previous 2 were demolished. The original watch office remained in use as a marshallers hut untiil about 1995 when it too was demolished.

[Mooncrest]

There are certainly plenty of vintage ATC towers still in everyday use. The ones at Barton and Carlisle, for example, are getting on a bit. But it's rare these days for a significant regional airport to be using a tower of such an age. I can think of the old RNAS building at Glasgow and the ex-RAF tower at Teesside. But airports such as Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bristol and East Midlands have gained new towers in the last five to ten years or so. Leeds Bradford's golden jubilee thing just keeps on going.

[ZOOKER]

I have a soft spot for EGNMZT, Mooncrest. During the early 1970s, in our spotting 'heyday' my cousin would deposit 2 of us at EGNM quite often. He travelled up to Leeds on business from Leicestershire and left us at the airport all day. Northeast Viscounts were the day's highlights, but we had fun playing 'Spot The Varsity', and watching the light a/c. Always enjoyed our days at Leeds.
fast forward many years later and having been posted to EGCC, did a liaison visit to said tower. It was being re-furbished and re-equipped and was a bit of a mess, ATC wise. Made to feel very welcome by a great team, in spite of all the friendly flack we often fired across The Pennines at you.

P.S. Do you like the early LPs by Steeleye Span?

[Mooncrest]

Zooker, we've had a similar discussion before. I know a handful of Steeleye Span songs - Mooncrest was their record label, along with Nazareth and The Hotshots. I think the label artwork inspired me !

As for EGNM, sadly I only work at the airport (airline ground ops) - I never got the breaks with ATC. But after twenty one years I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. I too have fond memories of Northeast, BIA, Air Anglia and so on. And the Vickers Varsity on the fire dump. As I said the Tower hasn't changed externally that much; last summer it was treated to a majorly-refurbished radar room. I've been in and it's rather splendid, albeit still using a Plessey Watchman. It works though, is 4G proof and has a new data processor so there's life in the old radar too, at half the age of the Tower !

[chevvron]

I believe Birmingham Tower dates back to before WW2.

[2 sheds]

I believe Birmingham Tower dates back to before WW2.
Do keep up, Double-O Seven!

2 s

[Mooncrest]

The Elmdon tower is no spring chicken but it's no longer an active control tower. That's the point I'm trying to make. It's probably a fancy office or champagne bar these days.

[Mooncrest]

I should add that it is fifty years' uninterrupted service for the EGNM Tower, night curfews and Christmas Days notwithstanding. AFAIK, there have been no occasions in the last fifty years when ATC has had to temporarily relocate to another part of the airfield. If I've got this right, the tower has undergone significant internal refurbishment on no fewer than six occasions and the boys and girls have stayed put, along with brick dust, canteen tables, steep staircases etc.

Zooker, how did the Manchester folks manage circa 1991/92 when the VCR was replaced ? That must have been a huge logistical and technical undertaking.

[ZOOKER]

We moved to the 8th floor offices, while the 1960 VCR was removed and the new one was built. Initially, we didn't think it would work, but it did....... Air and GMC sitting 50' apart and using CCTV to see what the other was doing! We didn't want to leave it in the end. If you do FB, send me a friend request.

[Mooncrest]

We moved to the 8th floor offices, while the 1960 VCR was removed and the new one was built. Initially, we didn't think it would work, but it did....... Air and GMC sitting 50' apart and using CCTV to see what the other was doing! We didn't want to leave it in the end. If you do FB, send me a friend request.

Interesting solution. I'd expected you to say you commandeered the 'other' tower on Pier B but obviously not. Probably not tall enough. This reminds me, about eighteen years ago, the EGNM management managed to acquire a used temporary VCR from the MOD. I think it came from St. Mawgan. I suppose the idea was for it to be used while the '67 model was being refurbished. However, it never happened - I believe the CAA took exception to its equipment fit so it wasn't commissioned. It is still there though, on a slope at the south side by the hangars. A kind of worthless shrine.

BTW, thankyou for the FB suggestion but I don't use it so I can't join you on there.

[cossack]

I got my first look at ATC there in the mid 80s when Dave Edmondson (Adrian's dad) was there. His brother was a teacher of mine and put us in touch. The rest, as they say, is history.
I too spent some time on the hill watching and was there when the Tristar went off-roading.

[Piltdown Man]

That makes the tower a little younger than the lumpy, bumpy thing that is called the runway.

PM

[ZOOKER]

I think I'm correct in saying that the oldest tower in The U.K. which has been in continuous use since its construction is EGCB?

[Mooncrest]

I think you're right Zooker. They were built to last back then.

As I said earlier, I hope the LBA Tower lasts for a good long time yet. It's a quite distinctive building and deserves to be around for a while yet. I suppose it could potentially be under threat from any plan to demolish the existing terminal (of which the Tower is a part) and airport development generally. For obvious reasons, any successor had better not be too tall (unless Ground Radar finally arrives).

[ZOOKER]

I'm sure you'll end up with a shiny brand-new 'Remote Tower Mast', and the opportunity to re-locate to the shiny brand-new 'Remote Tower Centre', which will serve all aerodromes in the re-designed NTCA.
Plenty of room for such a facility at EGPX. :E

[Mooncrest]

I'm sure you'll end up with a shiny brand-new 'Remote Tower Mast', and the opportunity to re-locate to the shiny brand-new 'Remote Tower Centre', which will serve all aerodromes in the re-designed NTCA.
Plenty of room for such a facility at EGPX. :E

God forbid.

[Mooncrest]

I got my first look at ATC there in the mid 80s when Dave Edmondson (Adrian's dad) was there. His brother was a teacher of mine and put us in touch. The rest, as they say, is history.
I too spent some time on the hill watching and was there when the Tristar went off-roading.

Cossack, there is a private message for you.

[cossack]

Mooncrest - You got mail.

[Squadgy]

I think I'm correct in saying that the oldest tower in The U.K. which has been in continuous use since its construction is EGCB?

Yep, we're pretty sure at Barton that it's correct and us FISOs are pretty proud of it !

If anyone if interested in a control tower that is older than Barton's and in use now (but hasn't been in continuous use), we'd be interested to know !

[Midland 331]

A rare glimpse of the old tower, circa 1964, here.

https://flic.kr/p/TdKdz5

There are many other 1960's Yeadon photos in this chap's collection

[obwan]

Great pics. GAPEP brought a tear to my eye.

[Mooncrest]

I've seen Nick Denbow's pics on flickr before. Loads of them - don't know how he ever got any work done ! They're all well before I existed but interesting to see how things looked prior to the late 1960s.


A rare glimpse of the old tower, circa 1964, here.

https://flic.kr/p/TdKdz5

There are many other 1960's Yeadon photos in this chap's collection

[Avatar2]

I'm working on a project looking at the history and construction of the ATC pre-1984. Does anyone know where I can find such information?

[Dan Dare]

I can't help, but there is a small amount of resource and pictures here EGNM Leeds Bradford (Yeadon) Airport | atchistory (wordpress.com) (https://atchistory.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/egnm-leeds-bradford-yeadon-airport-siemens-plessey-watchman-radar/)

[Mooncrest]

I'm working on a project looking at the history and construction of the ATC pre-1984. Does anyone know where I can find such information?
I have sent you a private message.

[Avatar2]

I'm working on a project looking at the history and construction of the ATC pre-1984. Does anyone know where I can find such information?
Thanks for these. Not much of the construction but interesting nether the less.

[Mooncrest]

Thanks for these. Not much of the construction but interesting nether the less.
The old control towers at two Jamaican airports - Manley and Sangster - have identical VCRs to the one at Leeds Bradford. Same plans or architect ?