Goodbye Heathrow Tower
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Heathrow
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I worked in the Control Tower Bar, aka Dodge, on the ground floor from about 1980 - 1983 when it closed.
Many hours of fun and stories never to be told
. Curtains pulled at closing time punters left by the front door and those in the know re-entered around the back, Happy Days!
The bar was a staff bar that had a public license, the guys who ran it also ran the Queen's Building bar.
Many hours of fun and stories never to be told
. Curtains pulled at closing time punters left by the front door and those in the know re-entered around the back, Happy Days!The bar was a staff bar that had a public license, the guys who ran it also ran the Queen's Building bar.
Last edited by Heathrow Cargo; 12th Feb 2013 at 16:23.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Control Tower Bar"?
Holy Moly!
A tradition methinks NATS should re-instate.
Allegedly, the new CTB, (control tower building), at EGCC, will not have a bar, but there will be a branch 'Greggs' nearby.
Holy Moly!
A tradition methinks NATS should re-instate.
Allegedly, the new CTB, (control tower building), at EGCC, will not have a bar, but there will be a branch 'Greggs' nearby.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
surfingatco,
interesting photograph.
Note how John Kings' fingers are clasped in the same fashion as those of the Duchess Of York.
interesting photograph.
Note how John Kings' fingers are clasped in the same fashion as those of the Duchess Of York.
Last edited by ZOOKER; 12th Feb 2013 at 19:12.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bath
Age: 58
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also had the pleasure of visiting in 1984 as part of my prep for the ATCO board interview (I didn't succeed - became an engineer instead). As I recall it was a 'give us a call when you are outside on the doorstep' sort of arrangement.
I seem to remember being told at the time (my memory prompted by the pictures above) that there had to be a CCTV to cover the view of the intersection obstructed by that radar head. How did that come about - did no-one think of sightlines when they were planning the radar installation - was it really a problem?
I seem to remember being told at the time (my memory prompted by the pictures above) that there had to be a CCTV to cover the view of the intersection obstructed by that radar head. How did that come about - did no-one think of sightlines when they were planning the radar installation - was it really a problem?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkshire, UK
Age: 79
Posts: 8,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There was no CCTV showing the intersection abeam the radar head when I was there (1972-1993). In fact, we asked many times for CCTV to enable us to see the cargo cul-de-sacs but had no joy. Meanwhile, the Police had CCTV all over the place, including cameras on the tower, to watch road traffic.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bath
Age: 58
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks HD - thinking about this, I must have wrongly linked a passing comment about the not-so-ideal placing of the Heathrow radar, and a CCTV (again early 80's) at East Midlands tower to cover a holding point (?) due to a new/extended cargo building (?)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: That France
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I seem to recall that the 'buried' Charlie stands (C14, C16) were at one point to be kitted out with CCTV for our benefit but the baggage handlers union objected.
Now, I cannot think of a single reason why a baggage handler would feel threatened by CCTV whilst going about his daily routine, but maybe others could?
Now, I cannot think of a single reason why a baggage handler would feel threatened by CCTV whilst going about his daily routine, but maybe others could?
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Midlands
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jh5c
It was EMA that used to need CCTV to see the RW27 holding points W1/2 and A1/2 because where the old ATC VCR was meant that these were blocked from sight by a combination of the terminal and the RFFS station.
Was one of a whole number of reasons (not least of which was how the new west pier of T1 would have blocked the view to M, H and G runway holding points) why they got the new tower and combined APP/AGL/ATE building whilst the old VCR and RADAR rooms were still serviceable (And are still in 24/7 use by Apron control and the Ops crews)
It was EMA that used to need CCTV to see the RW27 holding points W1/2 and A1/2 because where the old ATC VCR was meant that these were blocked from sight by a combination of the terminal and the RFFS station.
Was one of a whole number of reasons (not least of which was how the new west pier of T1 would have blocked the view to M, H and G runway holding points) why they got the new tower and combined APP/AGL/ATE building whilst the old VCR and RADAR rooms were still serviceable (And are still in 24/7 use by Apron control and the Ops crews)
Last edited by Burnie5204; 25th Feb 2013 at 22:31.
Nemesis of the Proot Dynasty
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Somewhere in Hampshire
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For LAS1997,
This may have been posted already, but the VCR has been removed intact (alright, in pieces) in the last few weeks and will be displayed at the museum at RAF Cosford.
This may have been posted already, but the VCR has been removed intact (alright, in pieces) in the last few weeks and will be displayed at the museum at RAF Cosford.
I visited in about 2003, while waiting to go to work. Rang the doorbell and asked if there was any chance of a quick visit. There was and I want to thank all concerned, but don't know any names, sorry. It was early afternoon and I think I watched a Concorde land amongst others. I was very impressed by the professionalism of all the controllers, alongside the 'Heath Robinson' style gizmo's - a combination which is so quintessentially British!
I also flew in and out of EGLL many times, and was very appreciative of all the controller's skills, which were and are the best in the world, in my opinion.
(I was the tw@t in pilot's uniform).
U
I also flew in and out of EGLL many times, and was very appreciative of all the controller's skills, which were and are the best in the world, in my opinion.
(I was the tw@t in pilot's uniform).
U
Tabs please !
I managed a visit too as member of a flying club. Very British indeed ! I thinks one of my party asked about modernising the system and was politely told that if a pen broke then you just used another one.
The room was running just about flat out but the air of coolness and quiet professionalism was astonishing. It made you proud to be a Brit
The room was running just about flat out but the air of coolness and quiet professionalism was astonishing. It made you proud to be a Brit