Air Traffic Control

Historical Detail

WORLD WAR II FLYING CONTROL

WORLD WAR II FLYING CONTROL

In England, during the early part of WW II, Flying Control support did not enjoy a high priority, indeed, it was almost totally lacking. One spring night in 1972, severe icing conditions forced a number of aircraft to ditch. These planes might well have been saved had there been a support control system in place with diversion airfields. The foregoing was a conclusion of the inevitable military post-accident investigation. The Royal Air Force very quickly decided to institute a Flying Control organization.

Since Bomber Command had been established and would be the most frequent user of Flying Control Services, a Flying Control organization known as regional Control was superimposed on Bomber Command administrative and operational lines. Initially, the Flying Control personnel were not welcomed by the aircrew, but this has often happened in any military when the pilots considered there could be a perceived loss of authority. Canada watched this development with interest. In the summer of 1942, Canada had decided to initiate the RCAF Home Establishment of Western and Eastern Commands. Of course, the building of the British Commonwealth airfields for training of aviation personnel was also underway. Therefore it was decided to establish a Flying Control organization and thus a request went forward to the Government of the day for the RCAF to establish Flying Control Airway or Route Centres for control as well as Search and Rescue. Additionally, permission was granted to build Flying Control towers at nearly every airfield. The duties of Flying Control Officers were spelled out by this request as follows:

Part 1 - Administrative

Responsibility;

Discipline;

Hours of Duty;

Correspondence, Reports and Returns;

Equipment;

Publications and Instructions;

Custody of Secret Documents;

Liaisons with Squadrons;

Communications with Stations; and

Personnel.

Part 2 - Operational