Air Traffic, ILS & Navigation Aids

[Dave 1959]

You're right on both counts Dave. Stan certainly came from either Heathrow or Gatwick. I wonder what the attraction of LBA was ?

Maybe a family connection with the area?.
Stretching the old grey matter other controllers I remember from that era were-Raymond Bagshaw,Chris Smith(?),Andy Rackham,Dave Edmundson,Peter Bullough and Richard Hayton.

 

[oldendays]

Also David Jeffers and Mike Wild. Chris Smith was an ATC Engineer - retired about two years ago.

Martin Sutton was another controller during the time LBA came of age, as it were. He came up from Bristol in 1982, probably not long after Gordon Dennison hung up his headset, and left again about six years later.

 

[Aviador]

Who was the lady controller who I seem to possibly recall her talking to her brother on the RT 121.05 who I think was a pilot for BA overflying?

 

[oldendays]

Could well have been Sue McNamara. Also no longer at LBA.

 

[Dave 1959]

Also David Jeffers and Mike Wild. Chris Smith was an ATC Engineer - retired about two years ago.

Yes thinking about it not Chris Smith.When they used to announce over the r/t who was coming on watch or going off by giving their initials Denville often used to refer to him as Charlie Brown so presumably his surname began with a 'B'(or maybe not!)

 

[Dave 1959]

Could well have been Sue McNamara. Also no longer at LBA.

Did her husband have a light aircraft based at LBA,sure I remember her saying hello to one of the controllers when they were on a local flight,Think it was also the same person who said she used to be in the RAF based, amongst other places, at Wattisham.

 

[G-AZNZ(2)]

Yes thinking about it not Chris Smith.When they used to announce over the r/t who was coming on watch or going off by giving their initials Denville often used to refer to him as Charlie Brown so presumably his surname began with a 'B'(or maybe not!)

On my visit to the tower, as mentioned earlier, there were 2 other controllers on watch.
One was a largish built guy called Pete who I believe used to work over at Blackpool and a young trainee called Chris - I think his surname was Brown.

 

[Dave 1959]

Also David Jeffers and Mike Wild. Chris Smith was an ATC Engineer - retired about two years ago.

Martin Sutton was another controller during the time LBA came of age, as it were. He came up from Bristol in 1982, probably not long after Gordon Dennison hung up his headset, and left again about six years later.

I remember Martin Sutton too. When he left he joined the CAA and just checking now he is Principal ATS Inspector and lives in Brighton.

 

[Dave 1959]

On my visit to the tower, as mentioned earlier, there were 2 other controllers on watch.
One was a largish built guy called Pete who I believe used to work over at Blackpool and a young trainee called Chris - I think his surname was Brown.

Thanks G-AZNZ(2)that sounds like it could be the '' Charlie Brown'' that I heard.
The other guy you refer to( Pete) I seem to recall seeing a picture taken over at the Flying Club around that time of somebody called Peter who I think it said was from ATC and who looked very much like Eric Morecambe (even down to smoking a pipe as he did)!

 

[G-AZNZ(2)]

Thanks G-AZNZ(2)that sounds like it could be the '' Charlie Brown'' that I heard.
The other guy you refer to( Pete) I seem to recall seeing a picture taken over at the Flying Club around that time of somebody called Peter who I think it said was from ATC and who looked very much like Eric Morecambe (even down to smoking a pipe as he did)!

Definitely remember pipes being on the go.
Condor moments all round - must have been an ATC thing back in the day!!

 

[Dave 1959]

Don't try doing that these days

 

[MeridenMan]

Almost certainly. I used to do the same on the 80s. The ATC used to ask pilots even in good weather if he could talk them down with height checks all the way as a means of keeping them in practice for when low vis or a broken ILS meant it was necessary. Fascinating to listen to.

Me too! Its what got me started in this wonderul career. Privilege to meet Stan and the team on a number of occasions.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Welcome to the forum #MeridenMan.

 

[oldendays]

It sounds like we have a new voice in the Tower this morning. I think he was here yesterday too. Welcome to LBA, whoever you are.

 

[Dave 1959]

It sounds like we have a new voice in the Tower this morning. I think he was here yesterday too. Welcome to LBA, whoever you are.

And a newbie on radar for the last few days too, a bit of "northeast"in the voice I think.

 

[oldendays]

Yes, Dave, I think I noticed another distinctive voice. Both are on duty today. I haven't picked up on any accents though.

 

[oldendays]

Our new chum from the north east is on radar. Super regional accent but his voice is muffled - just an observation. Perhaps his headset microphone is past its best.

 

[Dave 1959]

Our new chum from the north east is on radar. Super regional accent but his voice is muffled - just an observation. Perhaps his headset microphone is past its best.

Yes I have found his transmissions quite muffled too, the difference when another controller takes over is quite marked.I also think there is at least one if not two new voices on tower over the last few days as well.

 

[oldendays]

At least three newcomers over the last fortnight if my ears don't deceive me, including one today. I wonder what's going on ?

Not so long ago, a dodgy microphone would be replaced on site by Tels the same day. Five minute job. Now, buggered headsets have to be sent away for repairs.

 

[quik123]

At least three newcomers over the last fortnight if my ears don't deceive me, including one today. I wonder what's going on ?

Not so long ago, a dodgy microphone would be replaced on site by Tels the same day. Five minute job. Now, buggered headsets have to be sent away for repairs.

New starters in ATC now undergoing OTJ training. Second paragraph is nonsense.