Goodbye Heathrow Tower
Heathrow nostalgia
All this talk of the Tower going..... the beginning of the end was when Hatton Cross hostel went.
Couldn't leave a pie in the oven without watching or some so and so would half inch it!
Tom O'Connor would come in abut 2 am and awaken everyone in the dorm by putting the lights on and playing an LP!
And one new ATCA lasted about 4 hours after being dropped off one Sunday before getting Mummy to pick him up as he was scared. Never did start on Monday morning.
Back to the Tower, remember Dave Lister in '72 blocking the Lansom tube to QB after I told him we regularly put a duster down it to clean the inside.
And Steve the STPO who did a runner one night- was found in the bar playing the piano amongst the dreg glasses.
Couldn't leave a pie in the oven without watching or some so and so would half inch it!
Tom O'Connor would come in abut 2 am and awaken everyone in the dorm by putting the lights on and playing an LP!
And one new ATCA lasted about 4 hours after being dropped off one Sunday before getting Mummy to pick him up as he was scared. Never did start on Monday morning.
Back to the Tower, remember Dave Lister in '72 blocking the Lansom tube to QB after I told him we regularly put a duster down it to clean the inside.
And Steve the STPO who did a runner one night- was found in the bar playing the piano amongst the dreg glasses.
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I think I stuck it out for a fortnight at Hatton Cross before making alternative arrangements. Those Caravelles were noisy!
Had my only aircraft accident with Tom at Booker in an Airtourer......as we were taxying out to return to Denham, the main undercarriage broke/collapsed. Even today I reflect on the fact that his landing at Booker was velvet smooth and what might have happened had it been at all "firm"
Had my only aircraft accident with Tom at Booker in an Airtourer......as we were taxying out to return to Denham, the main undercarriage broke/collapsed. Even today I reflect on the fact that his landing at Booker was velvet smooth and what might have happened had it been at all "firm"
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I think it was Tom who introduced me to the tunnel that ran under the central area, between Queen's Building and the Tower (elsewhere too, I believe). Apart from other uses, it served as a conduit for the Lamson Tube system; one could hear the containers hurtling along in the pipes. It was a somewhat eerie way to get into the tower building.
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Loki...
I only have a vague recollection of the existence of the tunnel but I do have clear memories of the two bods who were i/c the Lamson Tube system.
They were known as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee and hated one another like poison.
I think it was Tom who introduced me to the tunnel that ran under the central area, between Queen's Building and the Tower (elsewhere too, I believe). Apart from other uses, it served as a conduit for the Lamson Tube system; one could hear the containers hurtling along in the pipes. It was a somewhat eerie way to get into the tower building.
They were known as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee and hated one another like poison.
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Remember them well....a right pair of whingers.....the whole system could be brought to a standstill by launching a pair of tubes from Flight Clearance with less than 30 seconds separation, IIRC.
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A search and rescue smoke canister worked quite well too.Unadressed tubes went direct to Tels.
(All allegedly!)
(All allegedly!)
Last edited by dash6; 2nd Feb 2013 at 18:01. Reason: Allegedly
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Top VCR photo.... The two chairs by the railing facing the camera are GMC1 on left, and GMC2 on the right. The desk where if occupied the people would be sitting facing the bottom left corner of the photo is the Westerly Air desk, so Arrivals would be closest to the camera, and Departures nearer the GMC desk. Mirrored on the Easterly Air desk opposite, so Arrivals on the right and Departures on the left. Off to the left out of frame and down in the corner is Ground Movement Planner, commonly called 'the pit' as it was tucked way out of sight, with the GMC Assistant. The GMP position in the new tower is still called 'the pit'.
2nd VCR photo is the view from Westerly Air desk, so the camera is positioned between the Arrivals and Depaeture controllers. The red chairs the other side of the desk are at the GMP Assistant position.
3rd VCR photo is of the GMC2 desk, and just past that on the left in the VCR Supervisor's desk.
2nd VCR photo is the view from Westerly Air desk, so the camera is positioned between the Arrivals and Depaeture controllers. The red chairs the other side of the desk are at the GMP Assistant position.
3rd VCR photo is of the GMC2 desk, and just past that on the left in the VCR Supervisor's desk.
Last edited by Gonzo; 7th Feb 2013 at 05:49.
Does Heathrow (or any of the London airports) still have an approach radar room on site, to act as a back-up in the event of an equipment failure at Swanwick ? If so, are there appropriately trained staff about to provide a radar service, given that the London airports are basically tower-only these days ?
I know Heathrow used to have Approach on the ground floor of the now deceased tower and that was supposedly retained after the move to LATCC.
I know Heathrow used to have Approach on the ground floor of the now deceased tower and that was supposedly retained after the move to LATCC.
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Originally Posted by Mooncrest
Does Heathrow (or any of the London airports) still have an approach radar room.....to act as a back-up in the event of an equipment failure at Swanwick ? If so, are there appropriately trained staff about to provide a radar service, given that the London airports are basically tower-only these days ?
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Just caught up with this thread - best 12 years of my ATC "career" spent in that building - and I've got my brick! (Thanks MD & MC). I'm looking forward to AC's stories on friday evening at Lasham - I think the rule will be, what goes on at Lasham, stays at Lasham ;o)
The picture below was taken during the previously mentioned visit of the Duchess of York with Lord Boyd-Carpenter and Keith Williams. It's me on easterly Air Arrivals looking far too serious - mind you I was on D Watch ;o).
Btw, I recognise the ATSA in the background but can't remember his name? I think he was/is a West Ham fan.
Caption competition anyone?
See some of you on Friday!
The picture below was taken during the previously mentioned visit of the Duchess of York with Lord Boyd-Carpenter and Keith Williams. It's me on easterly Air Arrivals looking far too serious - mind you I was on D Watch ;o).
Btw, I recognise the ATSA in the background but can't remember his name? I think he was/is a West Ham fan.
Caption competition anyone?
See some of you on Friday!