Central Air Traffic Control School

The Central Air Traffic Control School (CATCS Shawbury) is the UK's training establishment for all military air traffic controllers (ATCs), sited at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.

History

In 1950, the Central Navigation School joined the School of Air Traffic Control (from RAF Watchfield in south-west Oxfordshire), to form the Central Navigation and Control School (CN & CS).

In 1963, the Central Navigation School moved to RAF Manby in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and the Shawbury site became the Central Air Traffic Control School in February 1963. In 1972 the Area Radar School at RAF Sopley in south-west Hampshire moved to Shawbury, being known as the Area Radar Training School.

In July 1989, the school embarked on mainly training via computers.

Women

In 1963, the first three women to become air traffic controllers qualified at the school: Flying Officer G. Lord, Flight Officer S. Grieve and Pilot Officer A.P. Scougal.[1]

Shawbury control tower in April 2008

Structure

The CATCS also houses the Flight Operations Training School for Flight Operations Officers. Much of the training is done on computers, with the Computer Systems Squadron (CSS).

It has been recently been renamed as the School of Air Operations Control.[2] A new Defence College of Airspace Control is to be created.

Function

It provides Phase 2 training for officer and senior NCO air traffic controllers for the RAF and Royal Navy.

The air traffic control officer course is 35 weeks long.[3] The first week is spent at Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Fairbourne, on the coast in south Gwynedd. The Joint Air Traffic Control Course is 27 weeks long. The Area Radar Training Course is 5 weeks long.

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See also
Shawbury radar tower in February 2011

References
  1. Times, 7 March 1963, page 5
  2. SAOC
  3. RAF Careers

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