Control Towers In The Uk
 

Many British civil airfields have gained new towers in the last ten years or so. Newcastle's and Edinburgh's are similar and recent, Bristol's is fairly new as is Heathrow's and the ones at East Midlands, Stansted and Luton are around ten years old (correct me if I'm wrong). However, some are rather older and still in everyday use, Leeds Bradford (41 years) and Teesside (probably even longer) being two examples. Manchester Barton is an antique.

Do architects have a specific lifespan in mind when designing towers these days or are they just expected to keep going indefinitely, subject to upgrades and maintenance ?

I feel the tower at EGNM may have to be replaced before too long but I'd hate that to happen as it so distinctive !

MC ;)

EGJJ have just got there new tower. Not sure if they are in or not though. There old one is still standing but must be older the 40 years old. I guess you make it last as long as you can unless your made of money.

I would imagine that from an architectural point of view most towers are, like the majority of other buildings, designed to stand indefinitely. Generally new towers are constructed not because of any structural issue with the previous buildings but because the progression of technology and expansion of airport operations has rendered it necessary. Heathrow is a good example, I don't think there are any structural issues with the old tower (the building is still in use) but the expansion of the airport's operations led to the necessity of the development of the new tower.

Yes, EGJJ have a new tower and approach centre (after about 3 years of delay) but have not yet moved in. The existing tower/approach room is filled with asbestos and leaks and is also beyond economic repair. The move to the new building is supposed to be March 2010 but a firm date has yet to be set.

Cranfield tower was built in 1959 I believe & it certainly feels like it (& looks it too). Its one of them structures as you drive toward it you either love the eccentricity of it or you loath it with a vengance.

I'm more the latter. Its cold in the winter, slightly damp, dirty, falls apart at regular intervals and has blind spots - not to mention the stairs of death at the back where the only thing stopping plummetting off the roof is a sheet of glass... exciting eh!

Now the airfield has grown up and things have moved and become defunct (main runways etc) its' now in the wrong place - nowhere near the centre of the runway and with limited visibilty of the local area.

Good website for reference (although nothing to do with me) is:

http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Cranfield.htm


:ok:

EGSS 'new' tower went operational on 16th February 1996.

Wonder what it'll be like in the wind this weekend in that monstrosity near Hounslow?

Can i assume you are referring to the new Heathrow tower here Bren? I have to say I much preferred the old one, it was much more aesthetically pleasing on the eye and in keeping with Heathrow's nostalgia. The only saving grace is that it still stands to this day as I believe they cant demolish it.:)

Aye - that ponced-up ice-cream cornet!! I'm not so sure about the old tower's future but I'm glad I spent my time there. Even that used to rattle around a bit in 70 kt winds! I'd be terrified beyond belief in the new one.

Anybody know what future beholds the old Heathrow CTB?

Yes i think I'll join you on that one! It just looks abit too flimsy for me- this tall, thin concrete tube with a great big glass cup sat on the top!! The steel supports anchored into the ground obviously provide a degree of reassurance but I certainly wouldnt want to be inside it swaying around in a 70KT gust!!

Steel tube.

Ronaldsway is still operating in acontrol tower from the last war. However, a new one is shortly to be completed, to be operational next year. Is the current one the oldest still operational at a 'commercial' aerodrome?

Bournemouths must be of a wartime vintage as well.

The central core of Bournemouth's was built by the RAF in 1943, the VCR added in the 50's and the other extensions in the early 1960's. Although pretty grotty from the outside is has been updated (err...in parts) on the inside.It was, by the way, identical to the Ibsley control tower which still stands, albeit as a skeletal concrete shell.

HD: It's actually a huge patio heater.

Bournemouth and Blackpool superficially share a similar design of tower. Ex-MOD I expect. The old VCR at Edinburgh was much the same design as well if I remember rightly. The age of some of these buildings makes me wonder how much longer they can go on. Maybe new towers are exclusively for busy commercial airports with lots of pax (and money) these days.

Good to see IOM and JER getting new homes. I fear if LBA were to get a fancy new, tall structure, it would have its head in the clouds a lot of the time. And then, there's where to put it.

How does Teesside get on ? The tower there sits among a jumble of buildings and isn't the tallest. Are there any "visual considerations" I wonder ?

<<HD: It's actually a huge patio heater.>>

Love it, T!!!!!

Bournemouth's tower is basically the Air Ministry Works Dept design/drawing number 518/40, as is Hawarden's, Carlisle's and probably Blackpool's. There are quite a few other towers of wartime vintage still in use, some in the Highlands and Islands. As far as operational military ones go, Cosford's is the oldest. Built 1938/39-ish.

I think Glasgow's is certainly as old as the "new" Abbotsinch airport development, dating it to at least 1966, whereas Prestwick's is I believe a 1955 build or thereabouts?

Was the old tower at EDI demolished? I know the old LGW one is still there. What are they used as now?