FLYING CONTROL TRADE SPECIFICATIONS - 1944
In 1944, a review of the Trade specifications for Flying Control was carried out and following is a transcription of the approved trade qualifications for Flying Control:
Ser# F10 -- 23 November 1944
GROUP MAXIMUM RISK
B . . . . . . . . Flight Sergeant
C . . . . . . . . Corporal
S . . . . . . . . Aircraftsman 2nd class
Personnel in this trade are required for use in the operation of Airport Traffic Control equipment in the RCAF, including the duties of "B" position operator in the Flying Control Tower.
Satisfactory knowledge of and/or proficiently in the following:
Aural and visual sending and receiving of morse code (no definite speed required).
Department of Transport flying regulations and RCAF general and local orders relating to Flying, Airport traffic Control, Airway Traffic Control, etc.
Elementary electricity sufficient to carry out inspections and minor repairs on Airport Control equipment.
Preparation, distribution and receipt of flight plans.
Maintenance and upkeep of tower records, logs and service forms applicable to trade.
Meteorology sufficient to understand the importance of ceiling, visibility, precipitation, temperature, dewpoint and altimeter settings.
Operation and maintenance of special equipment in the aerodrome control tender, including pyrotechnics, traffic and control signal gun and Aldis lamp.
Operation of airport lighting systems, including:
Permanent-Contact, Bartow,
Auxiliary-ANS-2, and
Emergency-Flare Pots, Red Fuses, etc.
Operation of radio equipment, including ATR5, TF9D, GR10, GR17.
Communications procedures used in Airport and Airway Traffic Control by R/T, W/T, Schedule F, telephone and teletype, sufficient to translate and interpret control messages and weather reports and to contact outside control agencies and operators in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Procedure to be followed in emergencies such as crashes and forced landings, including rescue of personnel from crashes and fire fighting.
BR Operations, Fighter Control and Filter Communications, including the relation of Flying Control to BR Operations, Fighter Sector and Filter.
Elementary navigation sufficient to plot positions of aircraft on a Mercator chart.
Radio Aids to navigation and their use, including Radio Range, HF/DF, MF/DF and method of controlled instrument approaches and letdowns.
Airport serviceability standards and reporting codes.
Landing and takeoff characteristics of common types of Service aircraft.
Satisfactory knowledge of the following:
General and local regulations relevant to trade and section.
Procedures for obtaining, returning and exchanging supplies and equipment used in Flying Control and Operations Rooms.
Amendment and maintenance of publications relevant to the trade.
Disposition of squadron aircraft and the duties which each squadron is capable of performing.
Air Sea Rescue and Land Rescue procedures and operations.
Local weather peculiarities.
signed
(R.B. Plante) F/L
for D.A.P.S.
This qualification sheet cancels D.A.P.S. Trade Qualification sheet serial No. F10, dated August 1942.
FLYING CONTROL TERMS IN USE IN 1944
Following is a copy of an Eastern Air Command policy paper on Flying Control terms in use in 1944.
FLYING CONTROL PROCEDURES IN EASTERN AIR COMMAND-1944
Definitions and Abbreviations
Airway Traffic Control Centre - This Centre is a consolidating and controlling unit located at Group H.Q. The prime function of this unit is the controlling of air traffic, to ensure safety from congestion and collision, from first contacts until the aircraft are within the respective Local Control Areas and handed over to the Control Towers.
Contact Reporting Zone - A Zone with a radius of five miles from the airport. Inbound aircraft report to the tower when entering this area regardless of the size of the control zone at that field.
Local Control Area - The Local Control Area is that area within a circle of 25 miles radius from the centre of the airport concerned. Where the Zone is controlled by an Airways Control Centre, the radius is 5 miles.
Flying Control Truck - Corresponds to a caravan.
All other terms such as:
Control towerVISUAL SIGNALS
From the Ground
Steady Green Light - Cleared for takeoff; cleared to land.
Intermittent Green Light - Cleared to taxi. When on approach land long and clear runway promptly.
Steady Red Light or Red Flare - Do not take off; hold position; do not land; do not taxi.
Intermittent White Light - Emergency, taxi clear of runway immediately. (May be preceded by a Red Light)
Brown Smoke Bomb or Alternating Red and Green Lights - General warning signal to advise a pilot to be on the alert for hazardous or unusual conditions. (e.g. imminent danger of collision)
Blinking of Runway Lights - Taxi clear of runway immediately.
Smoke Pots on Field - Wind shift, watch for change of runway and direction of landing and field traffic.
Note: This signal is applicable to all aircraft, whether on runways or grass areas.
Green Flare - When all traffic has been prohibited from taking off and/or landing, a green flare will be fired to indicate that normal flying operations may be resumed.
Lighting of Rotating Beacon by Day - Weather below Contact Flight Rule minimum.
Rotating Beacon - Corresponds to Pundit (U.K.)
VISUAL SIGNALS FROM AIRCRAFT
Request permission to land - Signal identification letters with identification lights, or signal lamp. Fire a Green Flare.
Distress-Must land immediately - Fire red flare or series of red flares. Flash intermittent white light. Flash the morse signal S.O.S. with any signalling apparatus. Flash landing lights continuously. Flash navigation lights.
Acknowledgement - Pilots will acknowledge all visual signals according to the following. Pilots of aircraft equipped with receiver only will acknowledge radio instruction in the same manner as visual signals, unless instructed otherwise by the Flying Control Officer.
By Day:
(On the Ground):
By movement of the controls of the aircraft.
(In the Air):
By rocking the wings of the aircraft when practicable. The immediate retraction of the undercarriage will serve as an acknowledgement of a prohibitive red signal when on a final approach.
By Night:
(On the ground):
By signalling the morse letter "T" or letter of the aircraft.
(In the Air):
By signalling the morse letter "T" or the letter of the aircraft, except that, in the event of receiving permission to land, the identification lights will be kept on until the aircraft has landed and rolled clear of the runway.
MARSHALLING SIGNALS
Similar to those used in the European Theatre of operations.
OVER - Invitation to reply. Used at the end of a transmission. The term "GO AHEAD" is an equivalent substitution.
WAIT - Continue listening to my frequency. I will call you when clear.
OUT - The conversation is complete - no reply expected.
RADIO CHECK - How are you receiving me?
RECEIVING YOU STRENGTH - I am receiving you at: (strength specified).
Strength 1 - very weak
Strength 2 - moderately weak
Strength 3 - medium strong
Strength 4 - moderately strong
Strength 5 - strong.
GIVE ME A FIVE COUNT - Please count up to five and down to one again to enable me to tune my receiver to your frequency.
ROGER - "Your message received and understood." To be used together with station identification. e.g. "Hudson Six Four Zero, Roger."
WILCO - "I will comply with your request (or instructions)." This phrase can replace the phrase, "ROGER".
SAY AGAIN - "Please repeat your transmission."
SAY AGAIN ALL BEFORE - "Please repeat all the words of your message before the word..."
SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER - "Please repeat all the words of your message after the word..."
I SAY AGAIN - Meaning "I will repeat."
THIS IS - "I am not certain of the item you stated: verify it." e.g. "Verify wind S-Sugar at K-King."
CORRECTION - "I gave the item (or information) incorrectly. It should be as follows..." e.g. "Correction Runway two-eight."
DISREGARD - "My message is irrelevant or no longer valid. Please cancel as if it had never been sent."
CHECK - "Did you receive and understand the contents of my message?"
LISTEN (frequency) - "Tune you receiver to frequency ...kilocycles and stand by for a call."
CALL ON (frequency) AND LISTEN (frequency) FOR (station) - "To communicate with (station or aircraft) tune your transmitter to...kilocycles and your receiver to...kilocycles."
TRAFFIC PATTERN - The Aircraft Circuit of the Airfield.
INITIAL APPROACH - Downwind - Crosswind Leg
FINAL APPROACH - Upwind leg preparatory to touchdown.
HOLD - To remain at a designated altitude and position, pending further instructions.
PHONETIC ALPHABET - The same as in use in the European Theatre of Operations.
Updated: November 27, 2004