Update on vacancies
Join Date: Jan 2008
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obwan,
When the construction of nPC was underway, someone in the ATC Ops section at EGCC, (allegedly a superb guy who is sadly no longer with us), managed to get hold of the proposed floor-plan/sector lay-out of the new EGPX ops-room.
Said individual, altered the document slightly, adding consoles for EGCC's Approach North, Approach South and Final Director positions into the 'West 2 LAG', the part of the room where MACC would re-locate to.
Several copies of this document were left in the crew-room and placed on notice-boards........Much to the horror of some of the TWR/APC ATCOs!
On a different note, I went to a presentation by a senior member of MAG Ops recently, (the folks who own 'CC, 'SS and 'NX), and he told the audience that the group are very interested in remote/digital tower technology.
When the construction of nPC was underway, someone in the ATC Ops section at EGCC, (allegedly a superb guy who is sadly no longer with us), managed to get hold of the proposed floor-plan/sector lay-out of the new EGPX ops-room.
Said individual, altered the document slightly, adding consoles for EGCC's Approach North, Approach South and Final Director positions into the 'West 2 LAG', the part of the room where MACC would re-locate to.
Several copies of this document were left in the crew-room and placed on notice-boards........Much to the horror of some of the TWR/APC ATCOs!
On a different note, I went to a presentation by a senior member of MAG Ops recently, (the folks who own 'CC, 'SS and 'NX), and he told the audience that the group are very interested in remote/digital tower technology.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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We were on the BEA Course (How to fly a Trident in 2 weeks) at Viking House, Southall and some of the guys had gone to the local pub where they'd met 2 of the ex 21 Course guys who were attending IAL's HQ which was nearby. I didn't; there were some stewardesses in the Viking House bar that evening so some of us stayed there!
These individuals obtained a certain notoriety by rejecting the offer of working at LATCC. Certainly, they caused consternation amongst the ATCO 4s who, because of their absence, had to work pretty much every night duty (as I remember) because there were so few of them ! Later on, it was my pleasure to work with one of them for 27 years (non NATS).
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Without wishing to appear too picky the cadets at the time obtained what was called a unit endorsement which was a validation in all but name. It allowed the trainee to work under distant supervision of an instructor which meant he/she didn't have to be plugged in. The course instructor who you refer to was Mr F.R Hunt and being a young innocent lad from the country never understood why he was called Mike, who I may add. was a very pleasant fellow. I also did the"fly a trident in 2 weeks " course and in light of the catastrophe which happened at Staines in 1972 remember how easy it was to retract the droop lever instead of the flaps.
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P.S. for knockayne do you mean that the ATCOs in question didn't qualify for sector eights and had to work rostered hours; and being completely hypocritical, copped for quite a few sector eights myself
Without wishing to appear too picky the cadets at the time obtained what was called a unit endorsement which was a validation in all but name. It allowed the trainee to work under distant supervision of an instructor which meant he/she didn't have to be plugged in. The course instructor who you refer to was Mr F.R Hunt and being a young innocent lad from the country never understood why he was called Mike, who I may add. was a very pleasant fellow. I also did the"fly a trident in 2 weeks " course and in light of the catastrophe which happened at Staines in 1972 remember how easy it was to retract the droop lever instead of the flaps.
In fact I remember now he was replaced by Chas Davies just before our graduation (Sep '74). Wasn't much for him to do as we'd already got our final postings.
As for 'distant supervision', I achieved UE at Glasgow (Twr/GMC) where my 'long lead' mentor was usually the supervisor in approach downstairs and at Lindholme where he normally stayed in the rest room (or somewhere else where he could light up). I came in one sunday morning and the Unit Training Officer was plugged in having done the night duty. He handed over to me and left, making no attempt to stay and supervise until someone else arrived! On the 'third' console we did at Lindholme (NJRSA latterly called 'Pennine Radar' operating on what is now Class G airspace upt to FL245) my mentor did the first session with me soon after I arrived and thereafter stayed in the rest room every time it was our 'turn' to do it.
Yes. Because there were so few ATCO 4s (certainly on B Watch), there were no Sector 8s (or very few of them). I was an ATCA 2 at the time & felt very sorry for them, working a night duty every 4 day cycle; whilst the rest of us enjoyed Sector 8s regularly ! But, as you say, they were only working their rostered hours. I remember the great anticipation that the ATCO 4s had for the , anticipated, arrival of a whole Cadet Course of new 4s - only for their hopes to be dashed when they resigned !
About 10 years ago, we were having a coffee at our regular place in Fleurance ( France ) when some acquaintances joined us - they had a friend in tow and it turned out he was also an ex-ATCO. He said he'd been on 21, 'Ah the famous resigning course' said I. 'Yes, I was one of the 6', he replied. He'd got a job at Lulsgate and IIRC stayed there forever. I can't recall his name.
I started my Direct Entry/Class to Class course on 5th November 1973 and it was the time of 21's graduation.
An ex-21er, Ray Draper, was my replacement in Stornoway in Dec' 1982, and last year I bumped into Tony Merton-Jones in Waitrose in Abergavenny - we'd been on LATCC C Watch together before I went on my travels.
H&I was the LATCC 'escape tunnel' and I think 2 more ex21ers, Geoff Greavey and John Brough were in H&I at the same time as me.
I started my Direct Entry/Class to Class course on 5th November 1973 and it was the time of 21's graduation.
An ex-21er, Ray Draper, was my replacement in Stornoway in Dec' 1982, and last year I bumped into Tony Merton-Jones in Waitrose in Abergavenny - we'd been on LATCC C Watch together before I went on my travels.
H&I was the LATCC 'escape tunnel' and I think 2 more ex21ers, Geoff Greavey and John Brough were in H&I at the same time as me.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 27th Jan 2018 at 15:04. Reason: spelling
It's called a conversation!( Cyber in this case! ) - a la Ronnie Corbett!
Stop fretting, I'm sure someone will bring it back.
Stop fretting, I'm sure someone will bring it back.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 27th Jan 2018 at 19:21. Reason: missing word
Us lowly ATCA 3s on 'D' Watch at LATCC in '69/70 NEVER got a night off.
It wasn't until I transferred to LATCC Radar unit at Heathrow as an (Acting) ATCA 2 that I didn't work a rostered night duty.
(Course I suppose it cocked up some people's second jobs; several of the people on 'D' Watch used to do part time at Securicor which wasn't far from Porters Way)
We had quite a few through Farnborough prior to 2008 who had failed Area Radar training and came to us with Aerodrome only. Soon as they had validated and consolidated they were sent on the first available Approach Radar course.