Tc To The Seaside

[Widger]

Bdionu,

Well done to you and the rest of the crew. It sounds like it was a seamless transition after many years of hard work.

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by Widger

Well done to you and the rest of the crew. It sounds like it was a seamless transition after many years of hard work.

Hi Widger!
I would really hate to be thought of grabbing any glory here, my part was miniscule! At the start, like most projects, this was an engineering fest so it would be true to say that Goldfrog, as the Chief Engineer, played a pivotal role. However there were, quite literally, hundreds of people involved and many of those worked very long and very hard to get this project completed. I don't want to single out any particular team or teams because I know I'd miss some people out but I think that the VCCS project team and the day staff at Swanwick played one of the more crucial roles given that this was a new and untried system being brought in.

BD

[Moldioldi]

As one of the Engineers on one of the teams who helped make it possible thanks for the recognition. We often feel the poor relatives at the wedding. It was a real team effort because there was some tens of systems that needed relocating to a demanding schedule. Its therefore a tribute to everyone that it went as smoothly as it did. Now to move the Mil controllers and thats it for West Drayton. The poor old place is looking forlorn now and will seem very empty on Monday. Soon the old gear will be stripped out and I expect it will become another TESCOs. Shame because iall told it handled near 50 million movements without any accident attributable to ATC - quite some record. OK there have been a few problems at airports due to NAS but thats software for you. We can only hope Swanwick has just as an illustrious future.

[Mister Geezer]

I presume the old NODE L displays have gone? So I presume all TC controllers that we speak to now will be at Swanwick?

How does that work from a personnel point of view? Have you all suddenly moved round about now or are you commuting?

[Scuzi]

Mister Geezer, the old Ops room at West Drayton is still being kept running for a while in case we need to fall back on it in the event of things going tits up at Swanwick. All TC controllers are now at Swanwick and we apparently sound like Daleks due to the new equipment!

Some of us have moved house recently to minimise the need to commute for long but some people moved months ago and some are still commuting.

Today was like the first day at school, people wandering around in groups for fear of getting lost or having to talk to those weirdos who work in the AC room. I hear their toes and fingers are webbed.

[pdcta]

I searched for Swanwick Control Center on Google Earth and it looks like a very beautiful center in a very great location.
I mean... what better than a completely new Center, with last technologies, all comfort inside and a great place to live outside?? (I've never been there but Swanwick, Whiteley, Fareham looks so great from the satellite!!)
Never been in Swanwick new center neither in West Drayton old one... also never seen any pictures of them... but looking from the satellite seems to be no competitions between them!!!

[goldfrog]

with last technologies

You don't know how true this is

[Wavey Gravey]

Is it possible to see any photos for those of us who are not privileged enough to go inside???

(or does that make one a terrorist in this day and age??)

[NigelOnDraft]

Mister Geezer, the old Ops room at West Drayton is still being kept running for a while in case we need to fall back on it in the event of things going tits up at Swanwick.

Errrr like this afternoon BA cancelled ~14 flights ex-LHR this afternoon allegedly due "Swanwick" going t*ts up Although being Sunday afternoon, BA usually have plenty of their own reasons to cancel
NoD

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by NigelOnDraft

Although being Sunday afternoon, BA usually have plenty of their own reasons to cancel

BA are not telling porkies

[A I]

Tell us more BD. The Rumours and News Site is saying "computer systems fault at Swanwick"
A I

[Roffa]

From the CFMU site...

EGTC TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Valid from 25 Nov 2007 to 25 Nov 2007 (released 25 Nov 2007 at 14:06:39)

WE HAVE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AT LONDON
TERMINAL CONTROL RELATING TO THEIR RECENT MOVE TO SWANWICK.
.
A NUMBER OF REGULATIONS ARE BEING APPLIED AT THIS TIME.
.
FURTHER INFORMATION WHEN AVAILABLE.
.
REGARDS,
FMD BRUSSELS


----


THE LONDON SITUATION

Valid from 25 Nov 2007 to 25 Nov 2007 (released 25 Nov 2007 at 15:30:17)

INFORMATION ON THE LONDON TMA SITUATION
=======================================
.
IN RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT INCIDENT THE NATS ATICC IS IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING ACTIVATED.
.
ALL REGISTERED ATICC OBSERVERS AND BUSINESS RECOVERY FOCAL POINTS
ARE TO LOG ON TO THE ATICC WEB SITE AND AWAIT STATUS UPDATES
.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF LONDON FMP
.
FMD BRUSSELS


----


EGTC TECHNICAL PROBLEMS 3

Valid from 25 Nov 2007 to 25 Nov 2007 (released 25 Nov 2007 at 16:02:47)

SOME CAPACITIES HAVE NOW BEEN INCREASED.
.
MEASURES APPLIED SO FAR HAVE SUCCESSFULLY KEPT AIR HOLDING TO A
MINIMUM
.
DELAYS ARE NOW AS FOLLOWS:
.
EGLL 50 MINUTES BUILDING UP TO 90 MINUTES BY 1700 UTC
EGKK 30 MINUTES
EGLC 30 MINUTES
EGSS REGULATION CANCELLED
.
REGARDS,
FMD BRUSSELS

[747-436]

Good luck down in Swanick.

I have just moved into the development next door to West Drayton, wonder how long I have before next door turns in to a big building site!!

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by A I

The Rumours and News Site is saying "computer systems fault at Swanwick"

The bit which has always been problematic has a problem. People with very much larger cars than mine are making decisions on what to do. Might mean moving back to West drayton.

BD

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by 747-436

I have just moved into the development next door to West Drayton, wonder how long I have before next door turns in to a big building site!!

NATS expect to hand the site back to MoD in August. I expect that a developer is already lined up to start building.
Best of luck living in that area, is it a gated community ah la Johannesburg? You'll have seen the armed guards next door

BD

[A I]

Thanks for the update BD. I can't say that I'm surprised, just very sad. ATICCC called in so it must be serious

A I

[BDiONU]

Originally Posted by A I

ATICCC called in so it must be serious

The ATICCC manage the delay implications. The decision is being made much higher than that.

BD

[A I]

What happened to the last "C"?

[anotherthing]

As an ATCO at Swanwick, I would not be happy if we had another day like today - I think the engineers believe they know what the fault is, however if it turns out that they are wrong, then a move back east will be the only sensible and safe option.... unless we want to use a system that is rapidly losing peoples confidence.

[Ali Bongo]

Forgive my ignorance Anotherthing, but is there a cut off point at which you can't move back in the near future?