RCAF FLYING CONTROL
During the summer of 1942, Air Force Headquarters (AFHQ) decided that some system of Flying Control was needed on the stations and airways to provide protection to the various training and operational flights of the RCAF. What had drawn the attention of the Senior officers in AFHQ was the loss of several planes from severe icing. Had there been a control system in place, these planes and crews might have been saved. a submission to the AFHQ Program Control Board in September of 1942 was approved establishing the Flying Control Organization for the RCAF Operational Areas in Canada. See Appendix E
The Flying Control Organization evolved with the aim of ensuring the safety of aircraft in the Western Hemisphere Operational (W.H.O.) areas. It was designed to assist the operations staff in keeping track of all flights by operational aircraft and in rendering aid to such aircraft in conditions of emergency or bad weather. A total of 490 Flying Control, Aircraft Safety and Sea Rescue services personnel positions were established. The approved establishment was:
Wing Commander 1RCAF Flying Control controlled the movement of all non-operational flying throughout the W.H.O. areas in accordance with standardized airway air traffic control procedures.
The Air-Sea Rescue Service was an integral part of the Flying Control organization and each Command was to coordinate all facilities available for the efficient rendering of immediate assistance to distressed aircrew and the locating of overdue or lost aircraft.
The Chief of Air Staff's decision was to establish the Deputy directorate of Flying Control within the Division of Air Member for Air Staff at Air Force Headquarters. This Directorate was organized as follows:
Deputy Directorate of Flying Control.
Flying Control Aircraft Safety.
Flying Control Airway Traffic.
Air Sea Rescue Services.
At each Command Headquarters in the W.H.O. a Command Flying Control Officer and an Air Sea Rescue Officer was established on the Command Air Staff.
In each Group Headquarters, a Flying Control section was established to maintain a 24 hour watch in the Group Operation Centre. This section was directly connected, by land lines and teletype, to all R.C.A.F. Stations within the Group-controlled area. The function of this Group Operations Section was to guard the safety of airborne operational aircraft, control the movement of non-operational aircraft throughout the Group area, and finally, direct Air Sea Rescue action.
On each station, the Flying Control Section was established to provide control for and assistance to all aircraft operating from a particular aerodrome and to take over control of any aircraft which might have been directed to that aerodrome by the Group Control Centre. While AFHQ was writing it's policy concerning Flying Control throughout the RCAF, Western Air Command published the following order, which was also copied in Eastern Air Command as the first definitive policy re Flying Control in the RCAF.
Number: Western Air Command Air Staff Instruction # 82
Date: 23 March 1943
Subject: Flying Control Officer's Duties
INTRODUCTION
Pending the distribution of the R.A.F. Manual of Flying Control throughout Western Air Command, Air Staff Instruction #82 is for the use of Station Commanding Officers, and Officers Commanding squadrons regarding the duties of Flying Control Officers and personnel posted to the stations.
Flying Control is responsible for the safety of Aircrew and aircraft throughout Commands. Flying Control Officers maintain a continuous watch over all movements of aircraft.
to render, on request, immediate assistance to aircrews engaged in operational duties and to initiate distress procedures.
to supervise and control the safe movement of non-operational aircraft throughout Command.
The supervision of movement of aircraft is carried out in accordance with the instructions issued by the Operations Controllers at Group and Stations.
Organization
The two phases of Flying Control are:
Group Control
Provides continuous watch for safety of all aircraft on operational duties.
Supervises the safe movement of all non-operational aircraft between Stations, and between Groups within Command.
Controls the movement of U.S. Army, Navy and Civil Aircraft.
Control Air-Sea Rescue throughout Group.
Local Control - (formerly known as Aerodrome Control)
Governs the local flying within 45 miles radius of stations or as definitively set forth in Station Flying Orders as the designated local flying area.
Flying Control Organizations in Canada is set up throughout the R.C.A.F. as follows:
Air Force Headquarters
Deputy Director of Flying Control, organized under Director of Operations 1, governing four Departments.
Air Sea Rescue Organization,
Night Lights and Aids to Navigation,
Fighter Control Liaison,
Organization of Flying Control in Commands.
Western Air Command
Command Flying Control Officer and Flying Control Officer 1. These officers are on the Command Air Staff to develop and supervise Flying Control throughout Command.
Group 2 and 4
Group Flying Control Officers on continuous watch in Group Operations Room.
Groups Air Staff Officer for supervision of development of Flying Control within Group.
Station
Qualified Flying Control Officers on continuous watch at Stations.
No. 1 School of Flying Control
Located at R.C.A.F. Station, Patricia Bay, for the training of Flying Control Officers for Canada.
Station Flying Control Officers
Due to the nature of their duties the closest co-operation between the Flying Control Staff and Operations Staff is essential.
Limitations due to facilities and communications vary between stations, but full advantage and use of existing and available equipment is to be taken.
The Flying Control Officer at Stations is to be included in conferences for the siting, modification and installation of equipment which he will ultimately control, and use, namely:
Aerodrome and Air Harbour Lighting (all phases).
Control Towers.
Radio Aids to Navigation.
Signals.
Rescue Equipment.
Ancillary Equipment.
The Scale of Issue for Flying Control is at present under preparation and will be forwarded immediately if it is available.
Duties of Station Flying Control Officers
The Flying Control Officer is directly under the supervision of and is responsible to the Station Commanding Officer for the performance of his duties.
It is recommended that Flying Control Personnel be exempt from administrative duties on the Station, due to their continuous tour of duty.
The Flying Control Officer is responsible for:
Safety of aircraft and aircrew.
Supervision of local flying regulations and of aerodrome traffic.
Supervision of Command Flying Regulations.
Supervision of air sea rescue operations.
Supervision and Control of all aids to air navigation.
Liaison and co-ordination with Civil Aviation.
Reporting of infringements of flying and aerodrome regulations to the Station Commanding Officer.
Close Liaison and co-ordination of his work with that of the Station Operations Controller.
Supervision and control of the duties of the Duty Pilot and Aerodrome Control Pilot.
The preparation of a report on the first of each month covering the previous month's activities. Such report to be prepared for the Commanding Officer in eight copies for submission to the S.A.S.O. Command and S.A.S.O. Group. Distribution two copies each for Command, Group, and A.F.H.Q. with one for Command F.C.O. and Station. (See Attached)
To assist the Flying Control Officer, two general list officers or N.C.O.'s (pilot or observer) are to be appointed by roster from squadrons to act as Duty Pilots or Aerodrome Control Pilot (A.C.P.).
Duties of the Duty Pilot
The Duty Pilot's duties are confined exclusively to matters connected with flying and include:
Seeing that all apparatus for showing the wind direction is in working order.
Seeing that all flares, obstruction lights and other aerodrome illuminations are lighted when necessary, and are in a satisfactory state of maintenance.
General, supervision and inspection of aerodrome, including it's serviceability and reporting of infringements of flying regulations to the Flying Control Officer.
Responsible for receiving visitors by air and that they are looked after properly.
He is to ensure that the ambulance and fire tender are always available, and will inspect them daily.
He is responsible for making certain that all aircraft are dispersed off the runway in use. That obstruction lights for parked aircraft are in place. He will also check to see that any rules re obstruction lights are strictly enforced.
The Duty Pilot's tour of duty is 24 hours commencing at 0900 hours daily. He will report to the Flying Control Officer when commencing his tour of duty and submit a report to the Flying Control Officer at 0900 hours the following day. The duties outlined for the Duty Pilot should be in addition to his normal duties.
N.B. These duties include some duties already assigned to the Orderly Officer. The Orderly Officer's duties where such is the case, are to be amended to eliminate the duplication of above.
Duties of the Aerodrome Control Pilot (A.C.P.)
The day and night A.C.P. will report to the Flying Control Officer daily at 1700 hours for instructions as to the tour of duty. This man is a General List Officer or N.C.O. and is to be supplied by roster. Tour of duty for aerodromes - one week; for seaplane bases - at Squadron Commanders discretion.
The A.C.P. (day and night is responsible to the Flying Control Officer for:
The inspection of the personnel for, and the condition, as well as the placement, of the: fire tender; ambulance; A.C.P. van and trailer; and a tractor with tow bar and cable.
Control of the runway in use in accordance with Flying Regulations.
The handling of pyrotechnic and Aldis signals from the end of the runway in use, and for the reporting of the number of aircraft taking off and landing.
Keeping a log of infractions of regulations for reporting to the Flying Control Officer.
N.B. At seaplane bases a day A.C.P. may not be necessary, depending on the circumstances. A night A.C.P. will be required, however, to control night flying by crash boat with joint Radio Communication from the Operations Room with aircraft (if no tower exists).
N.B. Permanent A.C.P. for landplane aerodromes s being decided by A.F.H.Q.
Annex A to Air Staff Instruction # 82
Monthly Flying Control Report
Equipment
New equipment. i.e. Any equipment supporting Flying Control or Airfield operations accepted or installed Progress in obtaining same.
Failures of equipment. i.e. Signals, phones, lights, Airfield Equipment, etc.
Suggested improvements.
Delays in communications
Case history reports of failures in service to aircraft.
Liaison with other branches
Operations;
Squadrons;
Meteorological; and
Miscellaneous.
A.F.H.Q. and Command visits
Include visits to Command or stations.
Lectures Given
Subjects etc.; and
To whom they were given.
Control Services Rendered
Exercises:
Practices on:
Lorenz Beam, Q.G.H. procedure
Homing Beams, Air Sea Rescue
Practice, Dinghy Drills
Ditching Procedures and Airfield
Emergency Practices
Operational:
Q.G.H. given;
A.S.R. carried out;
S.B.A. and Q.C.E. completed; and
D.S.X. Search light procedures completed.
Criticism of Control
Action taken.
General Remarks
Distributions:
A.F.H.Q. D.D.F.C. - 2.
Command/S.A.S.O. - 2.
Group/S.A.S.O. - 2.
Command Group F.C.O. - 1 Station.
File - 1.
Updated: November 24, 2004