LUTON History and Nostalgia
aceatco, retired
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Yes, Neatax Aztec, used to arrive about 2300. Then, for some reason, it switched to Heathrow. However one night we noticed the usual trucks were waiting on stand 9 but we had no FPL. Quick call to London revealed it was bound for Heathrow. We got London to get him to call us and when we explained his trucks were waiting here (we did check!) he diverted into Luton. Customer service!
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Ah Spiney, night duties with no aircraft just a ghetto blaster and lots of pink Floyd.....
not at all like the Night I shall be off to in an hour!
not at all like the Night I shall be off to in an hour!
AP. I certainly remember that! Dark side of the Moon as a backing track to half mile talkdowns.. all the best old chap. Retirement is getting closer....
Yes, Neatax Aztec, used to arrive about 2300. Then, for some reason, it switched to Heathrow. However one night we noticed the usual trucks were waiting on stand 9 but we had no FPL. Quick call to London revealed it was bound for Heathrow. We got London to get him to call us and when we explained his trucks were waiting here (we did check!) he diverted into Luton. Customer service!
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In my early days there -we would collect the notams and any required forecasts and actuals from the briefing room below the tower.
When I was with Courtline-our ops room was right next door and we had a hatch cut in the wall-and could lean through and pick them up or ask the lovely girls in there for the latest actuals etc.
If LVPs we would normally get a call through from the mini tower
When I was with Courtline-our ops room was right next door and we had a hatch cut in the wall-and could lean through and pick them up or ask the lovely girls in there for the latest actuals etc.
If LVPs we would normally get a call through from the mini tower
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Why was the mini tower built and then abandoned? I might be wrong here but was it not taken out of service before the new tower opened? It has had a second lease of life with Signature as their ops room.
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Certainly in the late Seventies there was the TV screen monitor, showing a piece of paper with the Luton actual on it in various Ops rooms.
Not sure when it started or 'disappeared'
Not sure when it started or 'disappeared'
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The little paper notes for ATCAs to write on - remember that, it lasted till we got a proper ATIS to record on and an electronic weather input - That would have been mid to late eighties just before I left. I think we may have had Telex numbers for other off airfield Ops to get briefing girls to bash out the weather
aceatco, retired
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The mini tower was Apron Control (stand allocation etc) not ATC although we subsumed them into the ATSA ranks after the new control tower was opened.
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The opening in 1981? of phase 1 of the terminal upgrade.
I can remember the "gravestone" that was set in the middle of the check-in hall with the globe on top.
I can remember the "gravestone" that was set in the middle of the check-in hall with the globe on top.
Last edited by LTNman; 5th Feb 2017 at 21:33.
LTNman,
Your first photo is crying out for a caption:
Your first photo is crying out for a caption:
Islay looks interesting. I must go there one day.
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Interesting B720 in that last photo,Kenya Airlines? seem to remember seeing that a couple of times.
Don't think it was a freighter but what flights was it operating or was it just maintenance with Monarch?
Don't think it was a freighter but what flights was it operating or was it just maintenance with Monarch?
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Your first photo is crying out for a caption:
"One does hope ones airfield gets orf the ground and is a success. However....."
"One is eager to go and savour the other delights this quaint little airfield has to offer. However......"
"The filly behind me looks rather bored. Maybe I should pop along and say hello and brighten her day. However......"
"One does hope ones airfield gets orf the ground and is a success. However....."
"One is eager to go and savour the other delights this quaint little airfield has to offer. However......"
"The filly behind me looks rather bored. Maybe I should pop along and say hello and brighten her day. However......"
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On the day the first commercial passenger flight was not until the afternoon! In the event everyone was required in the terminal for the Prince so at least it looked the part! I believe friends and relatives of staff were also encouraged to attend to swell the numbers.