RAF Air Traffic Control School
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RAF Air Traffic Control School
The RAF ATC School which has been at Shawbury for many years, is it still there or has it been transferred to Swanwick?
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Neither.
The Central Air Traffic Control School, which I attended, as did our firstborn son, many years later, has become a victim of the way that the modern Royal Air Force is going.
Years ago, no one would have believed, that in the battle to come.... Scopies would win?
The Central Air Traffic Control School, which I attended, as did our firstborn son, many years later, has become a victim of the way that the modern Royal Air Force is going.
Years ago, no one would have believed, that in the battle to come.... Scopies would win?
Neither.
The Central Air Traffic Control School, which I attended, as did our firstborn son, many years later, has become a victim of the way that the modern Royal Air Force is going.
Years ago, no one would have believed, that in the battle to come.... Scopies would win?
The Central Air Traffic Control School, which I attended, as did our firstborn son, many years later, has become a victim of the way that the modern Royal Air Force is going.
Years ago, no one would have believed, that in the battle to come.... Scopies would win?
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Defence College of Airspace Control
Specialist Training
Specialist training is held at the Defence College of Airspace Control, which is split between RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. This training starts with a Foundation Module, then after you have successfully finished the course, you will be assigned to a specialist module in one of the core specialisations: Terminal (Airfield) Air Traffic Control or Weapons Control. You will be able to return at a later date to complete a short conversion course to allow you to undertake roles in any of the other core areas including Area Radar control.
RAF Shawbury in Shropshire trains around 1,000 students a year from across the UK Armed Services and international partners to be robust, resilient military personnel, technically second to none.
The Defence Helicopter Flying School trains aircrew for the RAF, Royal Navy and British Army. The Central Flying School (Helicopter) delivers the next generation of helicopter instructors.
The School of Air Operations Control trains the next generation of controllers, delivers training to those about to deploy on operations, and trains selected personnel as instructors.
There are approximately 1,200 personnel working at RAF Shawbury, around 500 Service personnel supported by MOD civilian and contractor colleagues.
Specialist training is held at the Defence College of Airspace Control, which is split between RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. This training starts with a Foundation Module, then after you have successfully finished the course, you will be assigned to a specialist module in one of the core specialisations: Terminal (Airfield) Air Traffic Control or Weapons Control. You will be able to return at a later date to complete a short conversion course to allow you to undertake roles in any of the other core areas including Area Radar control.
RAF Shawbury in Shropshire trains around 1,000 students a year from across the UK Armed Services and international partners to be robust, resilient military personnel, technically second to none.
The Defence Helicopter Flying School trains aircrew for the RAF, Royal Navy and British Army. The Central Flying School (Helicopter) delivers the next generation of helicopter instructors.
The School of Air Operations Control trains the next generation of controllers, delivers training to those about to deploy on operations, and trains selected personnel as instructors.
There are approximately 1,200 personnel working at RAF Shawbury, around 500 Service personnel supported by MOD civilian and contractor colleagues.
Today, the focus seems to be on what they now call,
AEROSPACE BATTLE MANAGEMENT
Gentleman Aviator
But it sensibly brings two broadly comparable disciplines together; even more sensibly they both belong to the Shawbury Staish.
Canada has been doing it for years - in prectice (in Canada) few make the change from "blips apart" to "blips together" later in their careers. But in the same way that I was told many times I was NOT a helicopter pilot, but a pilot who was currently flying helicopters.
That posting to Lightnings never came through tho' - thank God!
Canada has been doing it for years - in prectice (in Canada) few make the change from "blips apart" to "blips together" later in their careers. But in the same way that I was told many times I was NOT a helicopter pilot, but a pilot who was currently flying helicopters.
That posting to Lightnings never came through tho' - thank God!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The days of truly “bringing blips together” died with the Lightning as well, with modern AI radars and datalinks it suffered the fate of astrodomes in bombers and transports.
I have to admit controlling 8 ship WB/BW F-4 formations off Great Yarmouth for PIs was fun back in 75-76. Single changing target each run with 7 fighters and 35 mile splits. Target orientated fighter overlay and turn each fighter in on a 5nm stream; all the time coordinating boundary crossers through MC1 into and out of the continent.
”Sir. Run 1 Ratch 8 will be target; Ratch 1 will be a 135 fly-thru; Ratch 2 will be a 135 fly-thru; Ratch 3 will be a 180 fly-thru, Ratch 4 will be a 135 conversion as next target; Ratch 5 will be 180 fly-thru; Ratch 6 will be a 135 Fly-thru; Ratch 7 will be a 135 Fly-thru; Ratch 8 will be a 135 fly-thru. Run 2, Ratch 4 will be target........”
Always on a free call before or after they went to the range so usually controlled from the Fighter Marshall position while they called a controller from the crew room - and finished before they were ready. 4-5 runs in 20 minutes - and between 30-40 intercepts logged.......
I have to admit controlling 8 ship WB/BW F-4 formations off Great Yarmouth for PIs was fun back in 75-76. Single changing target each run with 7 fighters and 35 mile splits. Target orientated fighter overlay and turn each fighter in on a 5nm stream; all the time coordinating boundary crossers through MC1 into and out of the continent.
”Sir. Run 1 Ratch 8 will be target; Ratch 1 will be a 135 fly-thru; Ratch 2 will be a 135 fly-thru; Ratch 3 will be a 180 fly-thru, Ratch 4 will be a 135 conversion as next target; Ratch 5 will be 180 fly-thru; Ratch 6 will be a 135 Fly-thru; Ratch 7 will be a 135 Fly-thru; Ratch 8 will be a 135 fly-thru. Run 2, Ratch 4 will be target........”
Always on a free call before or after they went to the range so usually controlled from the Fighter Marshall position while they called a controller from the crew room - and finished before they were ready. 4-5 runs in 20 minutes - and between 30-40 intercepts logged.......
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ORAC ... so you were the one cluttering my recovery patterns at ERD in 76!! 
OMG, those skies were so full of aluminium back then. It’s a tribute to our joint skills that nothing went severely wrong!
OMG, those skies were so full of aluminium back then. It’s a tribute to our joint skills that nothing went severely wrong!
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As a very young controller at Eastern Radar between 1966 and 1969 I relied hugely on the guidance of the many ex WW2 aircrew who had transferred to ATC after the war. Furthermore, and despite my brash overconfidence and enthusiasm, without their support and a fair amount of good luck I probably would not have survived.
When I look back at the huge number of aircraft operating over East Anglia at the time, and the very basic radar on which we controlled them, I consider the very small number of mid-air incidents reflects some level of skill. Lots of Airmisses though as I recall!!!
When I look back at the huge number of aircraft operating over East Anglia at the time, and the very basic radar on which we controlled them, I consider the very small number of mid-air incidents reflects some level of skill. Lots of Airmisses though as I recall!!!
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As all military area radar has now been consolidated at Swanwick, it has been decided that from March 2018 military area radar training will take place at Swanwick using the dedicated simulator.
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It is amazing how many of these threads dwell upon the past, present and future of military aviation. Still, what should we expect from a website devoted to Military Aviation. I expect, should the necessity arise, the keen seeker might locate an active thread, somewhere in the digital world, dealing with sewing and knitting problems.
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Indeed you could, ValMORNA, but I’m not going to post a link for your Crochet Fan-Club.
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FWIW, I reckon it will be years before we fully understand the implications of these changes, but the School at Shawbury doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
STH
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Teeters,
Apols for the delay in responding to your comment about NOT being posted to Lightnings. The new Pprune gizmos do not make allowance for dinosaur people. I made a Quick Reply and it seems has disappeared into the blue.
My comment was along the lines of you, as a Gentleman Aviator, could not have been seen clambering up the outside of such an ugly flying machine as a Lightning. You had spent a lot of time clambering up the outside of a Wessex. You had earned your tattoo.
Also, you were too tall. We Hunter pilots regarded Lightning Pilots as "The League of Little Men". I seem to recall one or more articles on the subject in Air Clues of long ago.
Apols for the delay in responding to your comment about NOT being posted to Lightnings. The new Pprune gizmos do not make allowance for dinosaur people. I made a Quick Reply and it seems has disappeared into the blue.
My comment was along the lines of you, as a Gentleman Aviator, could not have been seen clambering up the outside of such an ugly flying machine as a Lightning. You had spent a lot of time clambering up the outside of a Wessex. You had earned your tattoo.
Also, you were too tall. We Hunter pilots regarded Lightning Pilots as "The League of Little Men". I seem to recall one or more articles on the subject in Air Clues of long ago.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Also, you were too tall. We Hunter pilots regarded Lightning Pilots as "The League of Little Men".
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Talking about Air Tragic, I heard the infamous Sergeant that wrote to an airline looking for discounts was not popular when virtually every Tom Dick and Harry was phoning his stations Air Tragic, asking for the said Sergeant for assistance.