1960s ATC film
As a pilot it brought some memories back for me - like saving for 2 years to buy the only Aircraft VHF set on the market (made by Shorrock) and listening to the BEA Vanguards et al giving position reports at Lichfield to "Preston Airways" and being handed over to "London Airways"!
Then joined BOAC as Second Officer on B707 in 1970 so the shots of same landing at LHR were quite nostalgic!
Thanks for posting Red Dragon - got any more?
Then joined BOAC as Second Officer on B707 in 1970 so the shots of same landing at LHR were quite nostalgic!
Thanks for posting Red Dragon - got any more?
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Excellent! Thanks for that, canard! Seen it before in the School of ATC cinema, but nevertheless a great find! Judging from the 'plastic FPS' and 'HB pencil' it is 'post-metal' flight strips but pre-'HMSO non-retractable biro' which would make it about '64, predating my time at Southern ATCC by a couple of years. I don't recognise the 'performers' as actual ATCOs but the SATCC background scenes are a real memory jerker!
125.9 M/cs to 124.6 M/cs. Never thought then that I'd ever get to work at both SATCC and PATCC. Amber 1 at DAV was 10 miles wide then, enough for the entire 707 fleet side-by-side...
Yes, Stan Shorrock converted the 24 quid Decca domestic receiver to receive air band and put a 12 quid mark-up on it. I bought mine from Bob Pooley when I did some work for him in '64. I do believe that the Gauer air band Rx (from agent Peter S. Clifford, Oxford...) pre-dates the Shorrock. Before that I used a DiY 39s 6d Johnson's Radio of Worcester one valve receiver plugged into a Linear Thirty guitar amp. Sowed the seeds big time...
Hamble 691?
Originally Posted by fireflybob
As a pilot it brought some memories back for me - like saving for 2 years to buy the only Aircraft VHF set on the market (made by Shorrock) and listening to the BEA Vanguards et al giving position reports at Lichfield to "Preston Airways" and being handed over to "London Airways"!
Yes, Stan Shorrock converted the 24 quid Decca domestic receiver to receive air band and put a 12 quid mark-up on it. I bought mine from Bob Pooley when I did some work for him in '64. I do believe that the Gauer air band Rx (from agent Peter S. Clifford, Oxford...) pre-dates the Shorrock. Before that I used a DiY 39s 6d Johnson's Radio of Worcester one valve receiver plugged into a Linear Thirty guitar amp. Sowed the seeds big time...
Then joined BOAC as Second Officer on B707 in 1970 so the shots of same landing at LHR were quite nostalgic!
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This film is one of six available on a DVD entitled 'British Air Traffic Control 1963-1973'. The DVD was released in 2009 and I have a feeling that it got a mention here at the time. Available from the usual online outlet where it has attracted three reviews, two of them being submitted by ATC staff.
Interestingly, one Air Trafficker gives five stars but the other gives only one.
From the publisher's website:
Interestingly, one Air Trafficker gives five stars but the other gives only one.
From the publisher's website:
Five unique archive films exploring the work of Britain's National Air Traffic Control Service.
THE CONTROLLERS (1963, directed by Peter Watkins, Colour, 26 mins)
Filmed at the Southern and Scottish Airways Centres, air traffic control operations are explained to four trainees. A BOAC flight from Prestwick to Rome is diverted to London where priority descent is accorded due to a sick passenger on board. The principles of the holding stack and radio beacons are explained.
WHY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 13 mins)
The operations of the National Air Traffic Control Service within the context of an increasing density of commercial, military and private air traffic. The film explains their division of airspace into lower, middle and upper, and the designation of directed flight corridors for commerical airlines. It also demonstrates 'Approach Control', the localised area of control that is specific to a single airfield. Illustrated throughout by aircraft including the Vickers Viscount, the Concorde prototype, the Vulcan and Harrier.
AIR TRAFFIC UNDER CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 15 mins)
The air traffic control system described in detail, covering airspace layers and zones, local and approach control, and the network of airways. Controllers, receiving the pilot's flight plan and regular radio reports of his position, check the flight on their sector radar display. The film stresses the value of civil and military co-operation in the control of fl ights over the Channel and the North Atlantic.
COMMUNICATION IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 19 mins)
Visits to the London Control Centre, the Prestwick Oceanic Control Centre, the UK Civil Aviation Centre and the RAF Airmove Network reveal the intricacies and complexities of the then range of communications - ground to air, air to ground and ground to ground - at the disposal of air traffic controllers including VHF and UHF radio signals, radar - both primary location and secondary surveillance variants, Flight Plan Processing Computers and Radar Aerodrome Surface Movement Indicators. The film includes footage of the Trident and the prototype Concorde aircraft.
RADAR FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1973, directed by Nic Ralph, Colour, 22 mins)
The sophisticated radar equipment safeguarding all aircraft over Britain is the major component of the air traffic control system. Explaining how radar is used, in relation to the network of airways and control sectors, the film shows in detail the stages by which two airliners are guided by air traffic control.
SPECIAL FEATURE: VOLMET (1980, Colour, 5 mins)
A brief insight into the work of London Volmet North (Heathrow) as one of a worldwide network of radio stations that transmit meteorological information for aircraft in flight.
THE CONTROLLERS (1963, directed by Peter Watkins, Colour, 26 mins)
Filmed at the Southern and Scottish Airways Centres, air traffic control operations are explained to four trainees. A BOAC flight from Prestwick to Rome is diverted to London where priority descent is accorded due to a sick passenger on board. The principles of the holding stack and radio beacons are explained.
WHY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 13 mins)
The operations of the National Air Traffic Control Service within the context of an increasing density of commercial, military and private air traffic. The film explains their division of airspace into lower, middle and upper, and the designation of directed flight corridors for commerical airlines. It also demonstrates 'Approach Control', the localised area of control that is specific to a single airfield. Illustrated throughout by aircraft including the Vickers Viscount, the Concorde prototype, the Vulcan and Harrier.
AIR TRAFFIC UNDER CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 15 mins)
The air traffic control system described in detail, covering airspace layers and zones, local and approach control, and the network of airways. Controllers, receiving the pilot's flight plan and regular radio reports of his position, check the flight on their sector radar display. The film stresses the value of civil and military co-operation in the control of fl ights over the Channel and the North Atlantic.
COMMUNICATION IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1970, directed by Bill Mason, Colour, 19 mins)
Visits to the London Control Centre, the Prestwick Oceanic Control Centre, the UK Civil Aviation Centre and the RAF Airmove Network reveal the intricacies and complexities of the then range of communications - ground to air, air to ground and ground to ground - at the disposal of air traffic controllers including VHF and UHF radio signals, radar - both primary location and secondary surveillance variants, Flight Plan Processing Computers and Radar Aerodrome Surface Movement Indicators. The film includes footage of the Trident and the prototype Concorde aircraft.
RADAR FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (1973, directed by Nic Ralph, Colour, 22 mins)
The sophisticated radar equipment safeguarding all aircraft over Britain is the major component of the air traffic control system. Explaining how radar is used, in relation to the network of airways and control sectors, the film shows in detail the stages by which two airliners are guided by air traffic control.
SPECIAL FEATURE: VOLMET (1980, Colour, 5 mins)
A brief insight into the work of London Volmet North (Heathrow) as one of a worldwide network of radio stations that transmit meteorological information for aircraft in flight.
Last edited by None of the above; 22nd Jan 2012 at 19:15. Reason: Punctuation
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Is there a part 2 featuring 'Flying The VOR' and 'The Crowded Sky'?
What about those NATS/Hed Kandi productions that Red used to show at his "Bar Stool Sessions"?
What about those NATS/Hed Kandi productions that Red used to show at his "Bar Stool Sessions"?
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Originally Posted by Widger
The film is a fake! They are all wearing jacket and tie!
If it was hot and we asked nicely Mr Cholmondley-Warner would occasionally permit us to remove our jackets...
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One of the trainees says that "he is interested in aviation", that phrase would immediately disqualify him from selection nowadays.
The only good thing about the so-called dress code in those far off days was that no man would be seen dead wearing an earring - unless he was a gypsy!
I think I may have been the first person to wear shorts to work at LL - much to Norrie Wales disgust! Mind you my legs are quite nice!
Malc, do you remember when we had 'shorts only days' and the lack of concentration on the job in hand (not sure about that phrase!) when the lovely Flossie wore hers, not to mention Basher etc!
I think I may have been the first person to wear shorts to work at LL - much to Norrie Wales disgust! Mind you my legs are quite nice!
Malc, do you remember when we had 'shorts only days' and the lack of concentration on the job in hand (not sure about that phrase!) when the lovely Flossie wore hers, not to mention Basher etc!
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 26th Jan 2012 at 09:36. Reason: missing word
I remember Pete Wyre being 'spoken to' by the Watch Manager (Tom Hodkinson) because not only did he remove his jacket, but he had the audacity to wear a short sleeved shirt with tie (just like talkdownman).
He told Tom that if it was OK for the chief of New York ARTCC, then it was good enough for him.
He told Tom that if it was OK for the chief of New York ARTCC, then it was good enough for him.
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When the air conditioning in Heathrow Tower packed up, JK stripped down to trousers and a cravat! The boss had a word with him and the next time JK was in the tower and the boss came up, he said in a stage whisper "Do you require an acknowledgment to my admonishment?"
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When we were doing our original FISO course at LATCC a couple of us had the audacity one day to attend not wearing a tie. The repost from the wonderful TT (and avid reader of Proon).................'I didn't realise it was mufti day today'
For the rest of the course we made sure we were correctly attired
For the rest of the course we made sure we were correctly attired
