'Remote' RAF radar station in S.E. England?
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'Remote' RAF radar station in S.E. England?
The RAF website shows a Chinook lifting a mobile radar to a 'remote' hilltop for the Olympics. Nice cushty posting? 
Olympic Weight Lifting Champion
mmitch.
Olympic Weight Lifting Champion
mmitch.
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<<The kit will be used to give the RAF’s air traffic controllers a complete picture of all low level aircraft movements on the London approaches.>>
I wonder why?
I wonder why?
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If you apply the two most commonly offered dictionary definitions:
situated a long way away;
far away from civilization, society, or any other populated area
it is hard to visualise where such a hilltop is situated in the south east of the country that would facilitate adequate radar coverage of the approaches to any London airport.
Mister B
situated a long way away;
far away from civilization, society, or any other populated area
it is hard to visualise where such a hilltop is situated in the south east of the country that would facilitate adequate radar coverage of the approaches to any London airport.
Mister B
As the CAA mentioned in a November 2011 press release:
RAF must be flush with controllers, so where are they all coming from?
Next summer Atlas Control, the RAF's air traffic service for the [Olympics] Restricted Zone, will be staffed by 50 controllers and 50 air traffic assistants
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Kenley would be a more sensible location although I don't think you would have to rely upon a CH47 to drop a radar there. I presume we're talking about a mobile Watchman (do they still have them?). I can't see a 101 fitting the bill.
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Funny old world. That was truly a guess although I do recollect a similar discussion a little over a decade back. At the time the ASACS guys quickly figured that they didn't have great low-level coverage in the area. The partial solution involved a military ATC radar and a modem.
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Remore Radar
One might ask why Air Traffic Controller's of whom it was once said, by a 2 star "I have finally found the only Branch in the RAF whose utility is directly linked to their postcode!
What will they do - give potential terrorists vectors to the target site?!
What will they do - give potential terrorists vectors to the target site?!
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That's the thing about the internet these days. If you take a few minutes to search for the answers they are usually there
Olympics Air Security
RAF Scampton - 1 Air Control Centre
Olympics Air Security
1 Air Control Centre (ground-based radar), from RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire.