ATC History

[chevvron]

At Lindholme we originally had the Patrington T80, replaced mid 1973 by T84 or T85 remoted in from Staxton Wold and this allowed you to 'see' traffic in the Lindholme T82 overhead, but even so, one of the RAF controllers would keep a log of levels in use in the overhead.

[xpz67]

Jimmy Jeffs

Hi There.

I interviewed him 6 times and much of which he told me was not 100% accurate.

I beleive he was overlooked because of his views but you have to admit that he was influencial in the development of early ATC and we owe a lot to him.

I would love to have a chat with his son.

Thanks.

JP.

[xpz67]

Jimmy Jeffs

Hi Lon.

I interviewed JJ 6 times and he was a bit of a slipery character. Much of which he told me was not true but he was ignored for promotion because of his views.

However, we owe him a lot for his forward thinking in the 1920's.

Thanks.

John Platt.

[xpz67]

Jimmy Jeffs

Hello there. I interviewed him 6 times and would love to know where you got that information from?

Thanks.

John Platt

[xpz67]

Old LATCC

Hi again.

Now that my body seems to be holding out and not putting me in hospital.

Did any of you work at the LATCC unit at Uxbridge?

The reason I ask is because it was called the "Listing building", not because it had any archetectual worth but it was supported on three railway sleepers to keep it level.

Any ideas.

Thanks.

John Platt.

PS. Just out of interest the history stands at about 140,000 words and tells a very sad story of neglect and under development. Does anything change?

JP.

[ZOOKER]

John, been following this, (via GATCO), for a while.
How long before 'Heavy Weather' hits Waterstones' bookshelves?

[xpz67]

Heavy Weather

Hi there.

It hasn't.

I have been suffering from a lot of tumours in my throat and various ilnesses that need attention. So the book has been put on a back burner.

I am now back in health firing on one cylider and am determined to complete the book.

I need all the help I can receive from all those old buggers who were in there in the early days.

It is a remackable story of incomtenence, under development and under funding and it needs to be told.

The years between 1939 and 1945 need to be exposed in that the higher commanders caused the lose of lives that never should have happened and I have the proof.

I also have the proof that some individuals were blamed for collisions that they never had a part in.

If you feel you have anything to add, please do so. We need to tell the whole story.

All I want to do is tell the truth.

John Platt.

[Lon More]

Reading in the old c/s thread the mention of Fan Markers reminded me of "the Outbound Calypso" sung IIRC at a LATCC Christmas party.
Bits I remember

Hey-ho, man alive,
Open up de throttles and climb to five ....

We fly along as in a fix
Watching de antics of an IR6 ...

Anybody still got this?

[Vercingetorix]

Those that got cadetships under the auspices of Margo Tricket and her deputy Barry Fryer: Without naming names almost all of the North side radar 'A' watch of 1969 ATCAs

cheers

[Rerun 57]

History of Green 1

Hello All

I am trying to find out where the colour/number combination for naming airways originated? Having watched aircraft in Green 1 over Strumble from a tender age, I would like to write a short piece in my Blog about the origin of Green 1.

All offers of info gratefully received!

MTIA

Adrian
PDboyinSuffolk

[ZOOKER]

Sorry to resurrect an old discussion, but if anyone is interested, there is a U.K. ATC History site being developed by GATCO.
There is already some great stuff on there, but any photographs, charts, relevant documents and comments are welcome.
If you 'Google' [email protected] you should find it.

[FantomZorbin]

chevvron
Re. Lindholme. The 'data rates' of the T84/85 were slower than the T82 consequently the Level allocation for transit traffic in the overhead, 'procedural', was probably the best option.

[staunton]

retired ATC Kevin William Anthony Staunton RIP

Good evening,
I have read some interesting posts on my father Kevin Staunton (ex-RCAF 405 Sq.) who worked as ATC with CAA early 1960s to 1978 and then switched to IAL in The Gulf and SE Asia. After retirement, he worked in a training role with Eurocentre, Luxembourg and for the Irish Aviation Authority in Shannon and Russia (where we coincidentally shared a year working in our respective roles), and Prague 2000. Subsequently became an IT guru and helped many friends with PC problems. Sadly passed away last Tuesday 3rd January am in his 86th year in Dublin (funeral Tuesday 11th https://rip.ie/showdn.php?dn=308745/...llorgan/Dublin ).
He had an ex-RCAF ATC buddy with IAL Ivor 'Micky' McClean from N. Ireland we last met in Moscow 1999 - any info on his whereabouts appreciated...
Martin Staunton (Son)

[callum91]

Hi Martin
I tried sending you a pm but it wouldn't allow me. I last spoke to Micky when he was instructing at Global ATS in Gloucestershire summer 2015 so it might be worth giving them a call.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Hi Martin. Very sorry indeed to hear of the loss of your father, Kevin. I worked with him at Heathrow for some years in the 70s and he was a great character. I wonder if I dare tell a story.... About 40 years ago, Kevin was working London North Director when, during a quiet period (remember those?) an Irish-sounding pilot in a Viscount was approaching via Watford. After some Irish gabbling, the Viscount flew straight towards Heathrow and made a very tight circuit on to the north runway. Kevin got someone to take over and said something about having to go out and pay the pilot a fiver!! It seems Kevin had bet him he couldn't land and stay inside the middle marker!!

Oh Kevin, I bet they're all roaring at your stories up "there". God Bless +

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by FantomZorbin

chevvron
Re. Lindholme. The 'data rates' of the T84/85 were slower than the T82 consequently the Level allocation for transit traffic in the overhead, 'procedural', was probably the best option.

It was actually my excellent mentor at Lindholme, (Les Coyle) who taught me the 'trick' of watching traffic in the Lindholme overhead on the remote radars; officially we still had to trot out the standard phrase 'losing radar contact as you pass through my overhead, I will advise when you are back on radar service'.
Les taught me other little tricks like allowing visual climbthroughs above FL245 when there was no other traffic to affect rather than vectoring the traffic 5nm apart.
Didn't happen to me but some airline pilots would get a bit stroppy when you said the above 'standard' phrase, demanding to know exactly where the radar was.

[Brian 48nav]

xpz67/ John Platt

We have not had a post from JP for almost 5 years - are you still working on your book John?

Does anyone know if he is okay?

[Twin Squirrels]

As a new member I've only just found this thread; can reinforce the information regarding GATCO'S history website,it is well worth having a look at.

Can bore people with some stories from my time at RAF Northolt. ...mid nineties era.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead but it seemed the place. I was wandering around the old Vickers airfield at Wisley, home to the OCKHAM VOR, and latterly watching a DVD on ATC history where the fix was “Wisley”. Did they change the name when the airfield closed or is it not the same navaid?

[chevvron]

The VOR was only installed (I think) after the airfield closed and was originally named something else, but it kept getting confused with Lambourne VOR so the name was changed.
The nearest navaid before OCK was the Epsom NDB (EPS then EPM) but 'fixes' such as Wisley and Fairoaks were used for Heathrow SIDs