UK - Bailbrook House

[Tower Ranger]

Happy days at Bailbrook, I was there as part of the first CAA Area Course in 1990. Mike, Eric, Martin and the two Dave's were all there then. I was fortunate enough to get back there regularly after joining IAL/ Serco Ial/ Serco BT/ Serco Aviation Services/ Serco International and every other name they came up with in the 90's.

My last visit was as a Hotel Guest last year which was a rather surreal experience.

[chevvron]

Tony Jakes resigned from NATS at Farnborough to become an Area instructor at Bailbrook.

[Mario62]

Atc Radar area course 1998

I attended My Air Traffic control ( radar area ) course in 1998 with an Italian classroom; we had one Italian teacher and all the others were from South Africa, even if they were British. Breakfast was good, dinner so so... my room was small but nice. I still have two white cups from Bailbrook College. At reception Hall the women working there, they were very nice with us, very kind people. I have only good memories of this place. There was a girl at safety deposit boxes room working there, her name was Kirsty, she was 29 years old, black hair, black, eyes, she was from south England, but she lived in Bristol , she was really nice , shy and very kind, does anyone remember of her? Years later, in 2006, I met some of Bailbrook College teachers at Eurocontrol school in Luxemburg. I didn't know that Serco in Bath didn't exist anymore. I
​​ still work as air traffic controller (radar area). Old good memories...

[2 sheds]

The college was the only private sector establishment authorised by CAA to issue ATC licenses.

I think that that should read "...authorised by CAA to conduct approved rating courses". The CAA still issued the licence (sic).

2 s

[chevvron]

I heard that when Bailbrook closed, some ex instructors tried to start a college for ATS at nearby Rudloe Manor which had just been vacated by the RAF (or at least part of it)

[Mario62]

Some of them worked in Luxemburg at Eurocontrol Academy in 2006.

[360BakTrak]

Originally Posted by chevvron

I heard that when Bailbrook closed, some ex instructors tried to start a college for ATS at nearby Rudloe Manor which had just been vacated by the RAF (or at least part of it)

They tried, and succeeded; I did a couple of short courses there. They became ASTAC and ultimately Global ATS.

[2 sheds]

I also seem to recall that although SERCO were economising, the real reason the college closed was more due to incompetence - I shall have to try and contact some old friends from that time to verify what I heard!

You could add that it was also due to greed - trying desperately to get their grubby corporate mitts on NATS. Delighted to play just a small part in their failure to achieve that!

2 s

[chevvron]

In about 1996 I heard from an ex IAL controller that SERCo were trying to get their hands on the IAL Pension Scheme funds; he was a trustee and had been sent on 'gardening leave' because he and the other trustees were refusing to release the funds.
I also heard that SERCo had planned to open a new college at Tewkesbury to replace Bailbrook and Hurn; maybe that was the 'cheaper location'?.

[sheepless]

In the late 80's rumours were that STC (I think it was STC or someone similar) bought it just to get at the pension funds. Also was quietly asked by a high up if the instructors would take it on if they pulled out. (About 1988, I think).
Interesting place to work. Reception phoned one morning to say xxx Radar Course from some distant land was waiting in reception. Nothing planned - it appeared that they were a year early. Naturally the course was run.

[Aeronaut_01]

Bailbrook

Originally Posted by Radarspod

Not realising that the place had some history in ATC, I happened to spend the weekend staying at Bailbrook House while visiting Bath. It wasn't till I read up on the history of the hotel I discovered its past use.

The history was a bit vague and it stated it was an ATC training centre. NATS was very much up and running at Hurn at the time, so I can only assume it was SERCO or someone else.

Can anyone enlighten me with some history of what went on there?

Thanks,

RS

Bailbrook


Hi
Hope I can help. It was an ATC training centre in Aerodrome and Approach with a Radar course too.
I went there as a student about forty years ago
It was run by IAL with final exams at Hurn.
I haven’t been back since those days, have had no contact with anyone and now semi retired doing something else . It was owned alleged at one stage by John Lennon of Beetles fame. Although not sure of those facts . I have no idea what it is now one of the instructors was a chap called Don D’Cruz that’s all I remember..

[sheepless]

Ahhhh IAL. Where job interviews for ATC vacancies went a bit like this ..

Walk in door.
Interviewer - Hello you are going to xyz in the Gulf.
Me - Does it have radar ?
Interviewer - Don't really know
Me ILS?
Interviewer - Don't really know
Gave up at that point and went to personnel department.
Personnel person - Well you will have been thoroughly grilled upstairs - You leave in 3 days.
.........

[Equivocal]

Originally Posted by sheepless

Ahhhh IAL. Where job interviews for ATC vacancies went a bit like this ..

I had an interview, I think in the IAL days, that went a bit like that. I forget the name of the Personnel chap that I was dealing with but every communication with him was peculiar! I was told that he later left on medical grounds. I asked for a little more, merely out of curiosity or polite conversation, and was told he had a problem with his hands.......he hit the MD.

[sheepless]

Or there was the controller who was fired on the 6th floor for some reason. On his way down, in the lift, he was chatting to woman who asked - What do you do? When he replied he was a controller - she said Oh we are looking for those and promptly hired him as an Instructor at Bailbrook.. It was interesting when the 6th floor person visited Bailbrook...