ATC History
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Let's get back to the nostalgia!
Anybody remember the close coordination between SVFR and Air Arrivals/Deps, which facilitated a low approach and go around by a Harvard - up RWY05 in the late 70's?
As I recall, the close coordination skillfully avoided the Tower Sup - LW - who was otherwise occupied with a visitor.
All went well until the moment the Harvard crossed 28R at speed, pulling up, which unfortunately coincided with LW's guided tour reaching the same point on the airfield!
Those were the days!
Anybody remember the close coordination between SVFR and Air Arrivals/Deps, which facilitated a low approach and go around by a Harvard - up RWY05 in the late 70's?
As I recall, the close coordination skillfully avoided the Tower Sup - LW - who was otherwise occupied with a visitor.
All went well until the moment the Harvard crossed 28R at speed, pulling up, which unfortunately coincided with LW's guided tour reaching the same point on the airfield!
Those were the days!
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Yes, I was there at the time!! As LW came up the stairs he was explaining to the visitor (or visitors..??) that as Watch Sup he had to be aware of everything that was happening... A minute or so later was a mighty roar.... I believe that IC was intimately involved!
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Ah, yes! IC, who was late one morning for SVFR, having first made use of the same service on his arrival from Southend! Not many tiddlers drop their pax off on the Delta's nowadays I suppose?
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LW (EGLL) Tower Supervisor
LW has a pretty good memory for these types of things; I'll ask him when I next visit him!! (son of LW). I believe he used to give a 30 second warning to the 2nd halves on a night shift in the Tower by starting an irritating whistle before he scaled the Tower stairs. Gave them a chance to clear away all the flotsam and jetsam before he huffed/puffed his way to the Sup's position.
Heard a story about LW not long after I left EGLL - apparently one of the ladies on RAD had an emergency & called him over from the Sup's desk. When she turned round, he was dragging himself across the floor, so she gave him some abuse as she thought it was one of his practical jokes ! Seems though that he'd actually cracked his ankle as he'd jumped off the podium to get to her ! A great character, as were the two Jacks who were my Sup's with LW for 2+ years - to this day, I'm sure it was them that helped me get a Cadetship 
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Anybody remember (or even appear in), 'Red One To London'?
A real-time documentary about a BEA HS21 from EHAM to EGLL, presented by James Burke.
Whatever happened to the BBC film?
Whatever happened to James Burke?
A real-time documentary about a BEA HS21 from EHAM to EGLL, presented by James Burke.
Whatever happened to the BBC film?
Whatever happened to James Burke?
"Red One to London"
This came up in a thread in "Aviation History and Nostalgia" on 29th July 2008, posted by "Trident Man". You might wish to check out his original input.
However,having looked at BFI website this evening, I quote from the British Film Institute's latest entry regarding the documentary:
Red One to London (Version 2)...a 60 minute programme shown on Thames Television on 21st August 1973.
" A report on the intricate world of airline operations and air traffic control explained by: Shaw Taylor from Amsterdam: John Viner from the London Air Traffic Control Centre; Bob Holness from the BEA operations room and Alan Hargreaves from the Heathrow control tower. This version includes a commercial break".
There is no mention of James Burke!
As a matter of interest, there is nothing on Wikipedia, or Burke's own website, to suggest that he was ever involved in the programme.
Personally, I thought he was....
A "Google search" about a year ago showed that the aircraft in question was a Trident 1C, piloted by Captain Mike Channing (as mentioned by "Trident Man"). Also mentioned was the fact that there was no intention to re-release the film. These comments are not apparent in current BFI info...
However,having looked at BFI website this evening, I quote from the British Film Institute's latest entry regarding the documentary:
Red One to London (Version 2)...a 60 minute programme shown on Thames Television on 21st August 1973.
" A report on the intricate world of airline operations and air traffic control explained by: Shaw Taylor from Amsterdam: John Viner from the London Air Traffic Control Centre; Bob Holness from the BEA operations room and Alan Hargreaves from the Heathrow control tower. This version includes a commercial break".
There is no mention of James Burke!
As a matter of interest, there is nothing on Wikipedia, or Burke's own website, to suggest that he was ever involved in the programme.
Personally, I thought he was....
A "Google search" about a year ago showed that the aircraft in question was a Trident 1C, piloted by Captain Mike Channing (as mentioned by "Trident Man"). Also mentioned was the fact that there was no intention to re-release the film. These comments are not apparent in current BFI info...
eglynt's suggestion of a new thread on discussing how much of the ATC task could be transferred to the flight deck is a good one. Anyone like to start a new thread?
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The story of LW dragging himself across was true - I was there. What a team LW and his deputy, "the Colonel". Most of his Watch had nicknames, The Captain, Animal, Groper were just some.
LW said one day he was on a diet - "hows it going" he was asked. "Well you can only eat specific foods on specific days" he said followed by "this is my dinner in 3 weeks time" as he scoffed some more!
There was a time when there was a load of DC3's in loose formation transiting from Europe to Fairford (I think) and they were persuaded to fly by fairly close by Special Woofer (SVFR Director). Great sight, but resulted in a complaint - they were sponsored by Shell, who got all their PR people and photographers on Harrow on the hill and saw their planes in the far distance instead of over them!
Only half the stories are in the Hetahrow book - I don't think the rest would get past lawyers!
LW said one day he was on a diet - "hows it going" he was asked. "Well you can only eat specific foods on specific days" he said followed by "this is my dinner in 3 weeks time" as he scoffed some more!
There was a time when there was a load of DC3's in loose formation transiting from Europe to Fairford (I think) and they were persuaded to fly by fairly close by Special Woofer (SVFR Director). Great sight, but resulted in a complaint - they were sponsored by Shell, who got all their PR people and photographers on Harrow on the hill and saw their planes in the far distance instead of over them!
Only half the stories are in the Hetahrow book - I don't think the rest would get past lawyers!
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windowjob.. The full story of the Daks was written up for Air Pic by PB under a different name, which was an anagram of the Deputy Boss's name.. Not a lot of people know that!
Sadly the Colonel and the Captain are no longer with us.
One day there was some sort of emergency - a clockwork mouse (Cessna 310??) had gear problems. The Colonel warned the AFS and agreed for them to follow it down the runway. Meanwhile the Air Man approved the Cessna to do a fly-past, but neglected to tell the AFS. The sight of several fire engines chasing the Cessna hell for leather as it went around will live with me forever!
Bren
Sadly the Colonel and the Captain are no longer with us.
One day there was some sort of emergency - a clockwork mouse (Cessna 310??) had gear problems. The Colonel warned the AFS and agreed for them to follow it down the runway. Meanwhile the Air Man approved the Cessna to do a fly-past, but neglected to tell the AFS. The sight of several fire engines chasing the Cessna hell for leather as it went around will live with me forever!
Bren
More than just an ATCO
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From "Time-Life"
31st March 1945: An officer plots the position of a Liberator X 8816 on a map of the Atlantic, in the Control Tower at Prestwick Airport. Prestwick Airport receives many aircraft every day, mostly from Canada, and refuels planes flying to India or on their way to report for service at RAF bases around the world. The airport is owned by Scottish Aviation Ltd and operations are jointly run by their staff and military personnel. Original Publication: Picture Post - 1931 - The 2,000th Liberator Comes In To Prestwick - pub. 1945
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Isle of Man ATC history
I'm currently researching the history of ATC in the Isle of Man for the future publication of a book about our 1940s Royal Navy Control Tower, due to be replaced next year.
If anyone has any information, or even better, photographs they would be willing to share, I'm really looking for pre 1990s information and pics.
If you'd like to see how ATC was done here in 1939 have a look at:
Ronaldsway ATC 1930s
If anyone has any information, or even better, photographs they would be willing to share, I'm really looking for pre 1990s information and pics.
If you'd like to see how ATC was done here in 1939 have a look at:
Ronaldsway ATC 1930s
More than just an ATCO
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I'm surprised that nobody's posted the true story behind the establishment of LATCC at Beirut on Grand Union Canal.
It seems two of Their Airships were discussing the location of Lineman (Mediator had to be co-located), and the decision was made to build at West Raynham, deep in the land of the six-fingered. However the WAAF taking notes was a London girl and the only place she had heard of beginning with West was Drayton so she wrote that down.
Well pleased with themselves Their Airships retired to a liquid lunch and forgot all about it. By the time the mistake was discovered all concerned had either died or retired and as construction was already under way it was decided to leave it there.
... and if you believe that ....
BTW I read somewhere that a new, gated, community is to be constructed on the site. HMP West Drayton?
It seems two of Their Airships were discussing the location of Lineman (Mediator had to be co-located), and the decision was made to build at West Raynham, deep in the land of the six-fingered. However the WAAF taking notes was a London girl and the only place she had heard of beginning with West was Drayton so she wrote that down.
Well pleased with themselves Their Airships retired to a liquid lunch and forgot all about it. By the time the mistake was discovered all concerned had either died or retired and as construction was already under way it was decided to leave it there.
... and if you believe that ....
BTW I read somewhere that a new, gated, community is to be constructed on the site. HMP West Drayton?
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ATC History
Hi Guys.
I am interested that the subject of the birth of our ATC system has arisen again.
My book, yes my book is finished up to the year 1939 and stands at about 50,000 words, the war years are running out to be about the same size and boy was there ever a cover-up there.
You may remember parts of it published in the CAA "in house" magazine (Whatever that was called) under the title "Heavy Weather".
Did any of you ever work in the "Listed Building"? It was the first home of LATCC and was called that, not because it was of any a historical importance but because it tilted and they put railway sleepers under it to raise one side.
The story behind the colours used to identify airways is facinating but even more incredible is how we got to use even thousands of feet for westbounds.
The post war section is going very well but I need anecdotes. The Harefield/Northolt mid-air and the EGLL Vulcan crash are two items that they wish were buried but I have the goods.
For instance, at the enquiry into the crash between the SAS DC-6? and the Avro York, the Air Ministry were asked had they received any communications from any airline regarding the need to increase seperation from 500 to 1000 feet due to the inaccurate altimeters, they answered no.
They must have forgotten the seven copies of letters from the airlines I have complaining about the lack of seperation caused by inaccurate altimeters.
I am afraid the book is no romance, it just tells the truth and I have the facts to back me.
Cheers
xpz67 (ex LATCC, EGDM, EGFF to name but a few)
I am interested that the subject of the birth of our ATC system has arisen again.
My book, yes my book is finished up to the year 1939 and stands at about 50,000 words, the war years are running out to be about the same size and boy was there ever a cover-up there.
You may remember parts of it published in the CAA "in house" magazine (Whatever that was called) under the title "Heavy Weather".
Did any of you ever work in the "Listed Building"? It was the first home of LATCC and was called that, not because it was of any a historical importance but because it tilted and they put railway sleepers under it to raise one side.
The story behind the colours used to identify airways is facinating but even more incredible is how we got to use even thousands of feet for westbounds.
The post war section is going very well but I need anecdotes. The Harefield/Northolt mid-air and the EGLL Vulcan crash are two items that they wish were buried but I have the goods.
For instance, at the enquiry into the crash between the SAS DC-6? and the Avro York, the Air Ministry were asked had they received any communications from any airline regarding the need to increase seperation from 500 to 1000 feet due to the inaccurate altimeters, they answered no.
They must have forgotten the seven copies of letters from the airlines I have complaining about the lack of seperation caused by inaccurate altimeters.
I am afraid the book is no romance, it just tells the truth and I have the facts to back me.
Cheers
xpz67 (ex LATCC, EGDM, EGFF to name but a few)