Working as a team of 3?
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Working as a team of 3?
Hi,
At area centres, such as Swanwick, do ATCOs work in teams of 3, with a planner and an assistant in addition to themselves?
I have seen pictures of the Swanwick ops room on titles such as the ATC books by Ian Allan publishing and I thought ATCOs all work on their own as they each have their own 'workspace' as i put it, with a radar screen, keyboard etc?
Thank you in advance for any replies.
At area centres, such as Swanwick, do ATCOs work in teams of 3, with a planner and an assistant in addition to themselves?
I have seen pictures of the Swanwick ops room on titles such as the ATC books by Ian Allan publishing and I thought ATCOs all work on their own as they each have their own 'workspace' as i put it, with a radar screen, keyboard etc?
Thank you in advance for any replies.
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The sector team at swanwick consists of tactical, planner and assistant each with their own radar display and keyboard.
At other centres they do it differently depending on their operational requirements.
At other centres they do it differently depending on their operational requirements.
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Thank you for the speedy reply, very grateful 
By tactical, do you mean the controller/ATCO? And he/she works with the planner and assistant?
Could I also just ask what each of their tasks are?
By tactical, do you mean the controller/ATCO? And he/she works with the planner and assistant?
Could I also just ask what each of their tasks are?
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BD
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At a modern 
Centre, where paper strips disappeared some 20 years ago. Executive provides radar service;Co-ordinator plans traffic flow, accepts and makes revisions and co-ordination as required (estimates are normally passed by Data Link to adjacent units); in peak traffic an Assistant may be provided who monitors the frequency and the traffic in general, can make updates to the display, and generally acts as a bac-up in case the others miss something. Aditionally a Sector Input Operator, who checks the raw flight data as sent by CFPS . enters re-routes and keeps everyone supplied with coffee
Centre, where paper strips disappeared some 20 years ago. Executive provides radar service;Co-ordinator plans traffic flow, accepts and makes revisions and co-ordination as required (estimates are normally passed by Data Link to adjacent units); in peak traffic an Assistant may be provided who monitors the frequency and the traffic in general, can make updates to the display, and generally acts as a bac-up in case the others miss something. Aditionally a Sector Input Operator, who checks the raw flight data as sent by CFPS . enters re-routes and keeps everyone supplied with coffee
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At a modern Centre, where paper strips disappeared some 20 years ago. Executive provides radar service;Co-ordinator plans traffic flow, accepts and makes revisions and co-ordination as required (estimates are normally passed by Data Link to adjacent units); in peak traffic an Assistant may be provided who monitors the frequency and the traffic in general, can make updates to the display, and generally acts as a bac-up in case the others miss something. Aditionally a Sector Input Operator, who checks the raw flight data as sent by CFPS . enters re-routes and keeps everyone supplied with coffee
Centre, where paper strips disappeared some 20 years ago. Executive provides radar service;Co-ordinator plans traffic flow, accepts and makes revisions and co-ordination as required (estimates are normally passed by Data Link to adjacent units); in peak traffic an Assistant may be provided who monitors the frequency and the traffic in general, can make updates to the display, and generally acts as a bac-up in case the others miss something. Aditionally a Sector Input Operator, who checks the raw flight data as sent by CFPS . enters re-routes and keeps everyone supplied with coffeeBD
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Blimey! 4 people to run 1 sector!
Read my post again; up to four, maximum three contollers plus a FDA (ATSA to you) in some of Europe's busiest airspace (Maastricht UAC)
razor sharp wit and our charm
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BD
And in the late '60s up to Feb '71, each LATCC sector worked with a 'D' man (he did the strips) a radar man, and an assistant who provided/updated a display via CCTV to the radar man; that equals 2 controllers and one assistant therefore the sytem hasn't really changed has it!!
This system was of course, still used by civil sections at ATCRU's until they closed.
This system was of course, still used by civil sections at ATCRU's until they closed.
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each LATCC sector worked with a 'D' man
BDIONU: I wasn't willy waving. The Maastricht Sectors are normally manned by 2 controllers. ( In the past, sometimes only by one) but when busy there is the possibility to provide a third brain, just in case one of the others misses something. It's not a question of being "modern", it's just an extra safety net.
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And in the late '60s up to Feb '71, each LATCC sector worked with a 'D' man (he did the strips) a radar man, and an assistant who provided/updated a display via CCTV to the radar man; that equals 2 controllers and one assistant therefore the sytem hasn't really changed has it!!
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[quote=Lon More;3024790]Blimey, the force is weak in this one
Read my post again; up to four, maximum three contollers plus a FDA (ATSA to you) in some of Europe's busiest airspace (Maastricht UAC)
Look you're okay for Europeans, put your willy back in your trousers, or maybe one
of your team can do it for you.
Read my post again; up to four, maximum three contollers plus a FDA (ATSA to you) in some of Europe's busiest airspace (Maastricht UAC)
Look you're okay for Europeans, put your willy back in your trousers, or maybe one
of your team can do it for you.
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Usually these days in Maastricht it is only possible to have 3 in a sector when it is a bit quieter and we close a sector.Then the FDA's are hiding behind their screens reading the paper
When it gets busy it is usually all hands to the pumps and open as many sectors as possible and we don't have enough staff to have 3 on the sector (only 2 ) and the FDA's are still reading their papers
A bit ironic really!
Enjoy retirement Lon it only gets worse here (with forced team changes)
When it gets busy it is usually all hands to the pumps and open as many sectors as possible and we don't have enough staff to have 3 on the sector (only 2 ) and the FDA's are still reading their papers
A bit ironic really!Enjoy retirement Lon it only gets worse here (with forced team changes)
Of course the present system at LACC evolved from the 'executive and support' controller idea devised for terminal control sectors way back in the late '70s; the consoles were purchased and languished at WD but were never installed; whatever happened to them I wonder?