Why is LATCC situated in West Drayton?
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Why is LATCC situated in West Drayton?
I've often wondered exactly why LATCC ended up in the middle of a council estate in West Drayton? Asked the question many times to various ATCO's whilst in LJAO and heard various replies. The only one that made any sense was when a very elderly ATCO suggested that the old Heathrow T264 radar was the limiting factor. He reckoned that when they
were planning the Linesman/Mediator project back in the early 1960's, the technology to transfer radar displays any distance was very limited. As the T264 on the northside of Heathrow airport was planned to be one of the main radars in the system, and the politians wanted the centre near London, someone stuck one end of a bit of string on the T264, drew a big circle around it and then started looking for Crown Land inside the circle. Their eyes alighted on a dissued RAF Supply Depot in the middle of a council estate in West Drayton and the rest, as they say, is history. Anyway, that was his story and it seems plausible enough to be true - anyone got any better ideas?
were planning the Linesman/Mediator project back in the early 1960's, the technology to transfer radar displays any distance was very limited. As the T264 on the northside of Heathrow airport was planned to be one of the main radars in the system, and the politians wanted the centre near London, someone stuck one end of a bit of string on the T264, drew a big circle around it and then started looking for Crown Land inside the circle. Their eyes alighted on a dissued RAF Supply Depot in the middle of a council estate in West Drayton and the rest, as they say, is history. Anyway, that was his story and it seems plausible enough to be true - anyone got any better ideas?
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Yes, I think your elderly ATCO was correct. I believe the limiting factor was the distance from the main radar heads. In later years the radar data from Ash and Ventnor was brought in by microwave link to some hefty dishes on that distinctive tower at West Drayton. Luckily, the technology improved by the time that the newer radars were introduced (PCD etc) so that landlines became an option. Without that breakthrough I guess that we'd still have JATCRUs at Sopley, Watton, Lindholme etc!!!
As a side issue, I suppose the fact that the ATCOs/ATCAs all lived in the greater-Heathrow area in those days helped make the decision. I mean, who in their right mind would move a new centre miles away and upset the staff ????
As a side issue, I suppose the fact that the ATCOs/ATCAs all lived in the greater-Heathrow area in those days helped make the decision. I mean, who in their right mind would move a new centre miles away and upset the staff ????
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You've all got it completely wrong.
Many years ago when ATC was all part of the Civil Service one of the top Neddies tasked with finding a new site looked at the Map of RAF bases. Coming from East Anglia and knowing what a nice area that was he quickly realised that RAF West Raynham was the place to be. Unfortunatley the secretary taking the minutes misheard the chosen place and wrote down West Drayton. That is how you all ended up in a very grotty council estate.
Many years ago when ATC was all part of the Civil Service one of the top Neddies tasked with finding a new site looked at the Map of RAF bases. Coming from East Anglia and knowing what a nice area that was he quickly realised that RAF West Raynham was the place to be. Unfortunatley the secretary taking the minutes misheard the chosen place and wrote down West Drayton. That is how you all ended up in a very grotty council estate.
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LATCC at Market Drayton? That really would have woken the locals up and given them something to complain about instead of the helis at Tern Hill. Mind you, they could always have used RAF Buntingsdale instead!
What do you mean by "the original Market Drayton"? Where is the copy (God forbid such a thing!)?
What do you mean by "the original Market Drayton"? Where is the copy (God forbid such a thing!)?
