ATC Facts for a documentary

[tomtom_91]

Hey PPRUNE!

I am making a documentary about the ATC system in the UK and I have managed to secure some visits to 3 airfields in the south east of England/London (thanks) however I am looking for some facts and figures to be put into my documentary... anyone know any interesting ones? Or ones that might be worth putting in.

Thanks

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Your profile says you are 17 years old. Would it be prudent to ask to what extent you have studied the workings of ATC and what you propose to do with your documentary when it is finished?

[tomtom_91]

Correct I am 17 - Very observant!

As part of the WJEC course for Film Studies in the second year you have to make a 5 min film. I have opted to make a film from the Documentary genre which is explained at the top.

Also my studying of the ATC system is fairly good, having spoken to real life ATCOs (frends with lots) and a visit to Swanwick.

Aiming for the documentary to be finished in 4 weeks

Tom

[Spitoon]

If you want some numbers try this doc. There's a lot of dull stuff but chapters 4, 5 and 12 may be of interest.

[Tower Ranger]

Worldwide at any time of the day there are more Air Traffic Controllers in bars than control towers.

Thats my fact for the day, am i wrong?

[classicwings]

How many valid ATCO's do you reckon there are in the UK then? I've got a pretty good idea myself.

[tomtom_91]

Thanks guys!

[doc_exe]

tom uplload the video here when the film will be done

[classicwings]

There are approximately 2,500 CAA ATC licences in the UK.

[Scooby Don't]

It's a dry read but good for some voice-over material:

Human Factors in ATC, by V David Hopkin. The best snippet, AFAIR, is that ATCOs make critical errors at a lower rate than a computer. That, and we tend to have slightly obsessive personalities. Slightly obsessive. Slightly obsessive. Slightly obsessive.

[Dan Dare]

Well this should sort a minute or two..

Available in Swis quality .wmv here

[chevvron]

Tomtom - do the airfields you're visiting have Air Traffic Control or FIS? Do you know the difference?

[anotherthing]

It's a fact

Whenever you visit a unit, any unit, you will be fed the line: "You've come at a bad time, It's usually much busier than this"

(or some such variation on that theme)

[Flybywyre]

Tomtom.................

You may also want to consider Scottish Air Traffic Control

An illustration of which can be found here: YouTube - Scottish Air Traffic Control

Regards
FBW

[Skyjuggler]

Hi Tomtom

Good luck in your documentary. I have only a few suggestions. Plan to do a LOT of editing since there is an enormous amount of stuff that goes on in any ATC centre which would be hard to fit into 5 minutes.

Secondly, see if you can organise a day or more at a control centre...

Please post us a link or upload the file when you;re done. I'm sure we'd all love to see it

[tomtom_91]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the pointers, I have planed to do a lot of edditing I know how busy the airfield I am visiting tomorow will be if its sunny. (Will have to not get in the way...anypointers).

I will be more then happy to post a link once my film is finished

Thanks Guys!

Tom

[classicwings]

Scottish Air Traffic Control

Well that's the first time I've ever heard a heading of 6509............