Closure of Border and Highland JATCRU's
I only did a short stint at Lindholme for my Area Radar endorsement. As far as I recall, our watch manned the RSA most of the day, rather than close down when there was no traffic, as if (for instance) Border were closed, Newcastle would chuck the aircraft over without prior notification! I had one session where 3 called out of Newcastle within 5 minutes and had to sort out joining levels at POL for them. My mentor at the time took extended fag breaks and left me alone most of the time.
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Greetings your Dukeship.
I remember having my Sony TR8460 air band radio tuned to 131.05Mhz while at university from 1976 to 1979. It was then transmitted from Grantham so you could hear the LATCC ATCOs. It was used for north bounds on Upper Blue 4, which at the time was, I believe, BPK-POL. Used to hear all the Tridents from EGLL and westbound trans-atlantics which were visible both from my parents house and Nottingham Uni'.
I think 131.05 was the LATCC 'Pole Hill' sector, and 128.05 was 'Irish Sea'.
I remember having my Sony TR8460 air band radio tuned to 131.05Mhz while at university from 1976 to 1979. It was then transmitted from Grantham so you could hear the LATCC ATCOs. It was used for north bounds on Upper Blue 4, which at the time was, I believe, BPK-POL. Used to hear all the Tridents from EGLL and westbound trans-atlantics which were visible both from my parents house and Nottingham Uni'.
I think 131.05 was the LATCC 'Pole Hill' sector, and 128.05 was 'Irish Sea'.
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Originally Posted by ZOOKER
131.05 was the LATCC 'Pole Hill' sector, and 128.05 was 'Irish Sea'
Sad.
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Talkdownman,
You're bang on. My spotting days were from 1970 to 1974 at EGNX. back then, I think it was called Upper Amber 39. One Sunday afternoon we 'potted' both a Sabena and Swissair 747-100 on that very airway. HB-IGA and OO-SGB. It was in the days of position reports and I think it was 11 minutes from BPK to overhead EGNX at 'jet speed'.
Bedford became BEDFO, but I think Hucknall was withdrawn. The charts are in my loft somewhere.
By the time I joined NATS in 1979, Upper Amber 39 had become Upper Blue 4, later to become Upper Bravo 4 and then Upper November 601. N601 was bolted on below.
You're bang on. My spotting days were from 1970 to 1974 at EGNX. back then, I think it was called Upper Amber 39. One Sunday afternoon we 'potted' both a Sabena and Swissair 747-100 on that very airway. HB-IGA and OO-SGB. It was in the days of position reports and I think it was 11 minutes from BPK to overhead EGNX at 'jet speed'.
Bedford became BEDFO, but I think Hucknall was withdrawn. The charts are in my loft somewhere.
By the time I joined NATS in 1979, Upper Amber 39 had become Upper Blue 4, later to become Upper Bravo 4 and then Upper November 601. N601 was bolted on below.
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You were probably listening to me, then, amongst others. DTY, and Sector 25...
The fudged wing-times were usually 3, 5 and 8… BPK-BED was prob 3, and BED-Huck 8, so 11 then…!
Keep those charts. They might make an Old Man very happy one day…
Now, Nurse, where's my early go...
The fudged wing-times were usually 3, 5 and 8… BPK-BED was prob 3, and BED-Huck 8, so 11 then…!
Keep those charts. They might make an Old Man very happy one day…
Now, Nurse, where's my early go...
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Border Radar ceased operations on 30th September 1988 at 2200, frequency 132,9.
Pennine Radar opened on 03rd October 1988 at 0715, but the RTF frequency is not known at this time.
It is thought that 5 ATCOs and 3 ATSAs transferred to Manchester.
Pennine Radar opened on 03rd October 1988 at 0715, but the RTF frequency is not known at this time.
It is thought that 5 ATCOs and 3 ATSAs transferred to Manchester.
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My home on this forum is " Spectator's Balcony " but the comments on this thread bring back memories of listening to 135.85 on my Sharp radio in the 1970s. I had always wondered where Border Radar was based and that has been answered , however, can somebody provide the location for Ulster Radar, please?
To go somewhat off topic, but in the late 1990s I had the opportunity to visit Atlantic House and during the visit my self and other members of the group were given a 16 page booklet on the working of the Scottish and Oceanic Centres - has a similar booklet been produced in describe the new facilitiy opened in January 2010 ?
To go somewhat off topic, but in the late 1990s I had the opportunity to visit Atlantic House and during the visit my self and other members of the group were given a 16 page booklet on the working of the Scottish and Oceanic Centres - has a similar booklet been produced in describe the new facilitiy opened in January 2010 ?
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"Ulster Radar" was based at Bishops Court in Northern Ireland clearly seen on Google maps.
A new information package including DVD was made for the New Prestwick Centre ,however I do not know how many are left. It could be zero or there could be thousands in a cupboard somewhere!
Rgds
AyrTC.
A new information package including DVD was made for the New Prestwick Centre ,however I do not know how many are left. It could be zero or there could be thousands in a cupboard somewhere!
Rgds
AyrTC.
Last edited by AyrTC; 11th Jan 2014 at 17:09.
More than just an ATCO
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a great boss in George Brown.
There was a George Brown (Scottish guy) at LATCC in '70/71 and he transferred direct to Border; I think he's the one.
Edit:
Thinking back now, I was on duty at the old LATCC radar unit at Heathrow with the George Brown I knew for new year '71 (I remember Beryl trying to give him a new year snog and not succeeding) so I reckon he probably moved on when we closed this down and went to Mediator 1 at Drayton in Feb '71.
Edit:
Thinking back now, I was on duty at the old LATCC radar unit at Heathrow with the George Brown I knew for new year '71 (I remember Beryl trying to give him a new year snog and not succeeding) so I reckon he probably moved on when we closed this down and went to Mediator 1 at Drayton in Feb '71.
Last edited by chevvron; 11th Jan 2014 at 16:50.
More than just an ATCO
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Thread drift
There was a similar song @ LATCC in the late 60s, The Outbound Calypso, very much in the style of the calypsos on "Tonight"
I can only remember snatches:
... Hey ho, man alive
Open up de throttles and climb to five ....
.... we fly along as in a fix
watching the antics of an IR6 .....
There was a similar song @ LATCC in the late 60s, The Outbound Calypso, very much in the style of the calypsos on "Tonight"
I can only remember snatches:
... Hey ho, man alive
Open up de throttles and climb to five ....
.... we fly along as in a fix
watching the antics of an IR6 .....
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Highland Radar Closure
Highland Radar closed in 1993 when we all moved to Aberdeen. I'm the last of the Mohicans, everybody else has moved on in different ways:
Phil McCabe - retired
Tim Marshal - retired
Mike McCann - retired
Colin Saville - took medical retirement in about 1996/7 with a heart problem, still looks healthier than the rest of us.
Chris Milan - retired
Tony Stephenson - after years of avoiding microwave cookers in case they gave him cancer Tony sadly died of cancer.
Viv Mullaney - recently retired from Edinburgh
Brian (Whisky mac) McLaughlin - parted company with NATS
Don't get me started about when I were a lad; 20 on frequency, primary only, 4RPM radar (T80) and blips an inch wide. Youngsters don't know their born these days with their fancy code-callsign, Mode S thingumyjigs and the radar even tells you if you've screwed up(!) and how do you scrape the ice off your windscreen with an electronic strip?
Phil McCabe - retired
Tim Marshal - retired
Mike McCann - retired
Colin Saville - took medical retirement in about 1996/7 with a heart problem, still looks healthier than the rest of us.
Chris Milan - retired
Tony Stephenson - after years of avoiding microwave cookers in case they gave him cancer Tony sadly died of cancer.
Viv Mullaney - recently retired from Edinburgh
Brian (Whisky mac) McLaughlin - parted company with NATS
Don't get me started about when I were a lad; 20 on frequency, primary only, 4RPM radar (T80) and blips an inch wide. Youngsters don't know their born these days with their fancy code-callsign, Mode S thingumyjigs and the radar even tells you if you've screwed up(!) and how do you scrape the ice off your windscreen with an electronic strip?