As we celebrate Armed Forces day, 78 Squadron, Air Traffic Control Officer, Flight Lieutenant Ross Hammerton, tells us about his recent trip to the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy. The event commemorated members of RAF No. 15082 GCI & Mobile Signals Units, a little-known British radar unit that landed on Omaha Beach with US Forces and lost several personnel. 

I have always enjoyed playing a part in flypasts, so when I was asked if I wanted to be involved with the one being organised for the King’s Birthday, I jumped at the chance!

For more than 25 years, Concorde was the world’s only successful supersonic airliner. Ady Dolan, Heathrow Controller, joined NATS in 1999 and saw Concorde fly for four years. He reflects on what it was like to control it…

As we remember those who lost our lives in conflict, Prestwick air traffic controller Angela Henderson tells us about the incredible story of her pioneering war time grandparents. Douglas and Margaret Fairweather are among the very few married couples to rest together in a Commonwealth War Grave and here, Angela reflects on their courageous acts….

On 24 June 1948, ground access to the French, British and American zones of Berlin was cut off by the Soviet forces in East Germany. On 26 June, the first airlift flights departed for West Berlin. Over the following fourteen months over two million people were supplied with food, medicine, clothing, fuel, water and any other necessities by air.

To celebrate Women of Aviation week and Women’s History month, we caught up with some of our air traffic controllers at Prestwick Centre to find out why encouraging more women into aviation is important to them and what inspired them into their roles…

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) came to a close earlier this month and as the UK prepared to host the event in Glasgow, months of logistical planning from our side was coming together as our air traffic controllers geared up for what was a busy few weeks, especially in Scottish airspace and at Scottish airports.

On this milestone anniversary, we wanted to re-share the stories of two controllers who worked on 9/11 – alongside the incredible account recorded in the London Area Control supervisor’s log book – in commemoration of the victims, and in thanks for all those who worked on that day and every day to help keep the skies safe. 

This morning you might have seen British Airway’s last two Heathrow based B747s head off to retirement including a stunning low-level go-around over the airport, but how do you pull something like that off?

The use of the phonetic spelling alphabet – Alfa, Bravo, Charlie etc – is a common sound in air traffic control towers and centres around the world, but where did it come from and why does everyone use the same one?