School of Air Operations Control

School of Air Operations Control
File:School of Air Operations Control badge.jpg School badge
Active	1963 (1963) (as the Central Air Traffic Control School) – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force Royal Navy
Type	Defence training school
Role	Air traffic management training
Part of	Defence College of Air and Space Operations
Home station	RAF Shawbury
Motto(s)	Securi transeant (Latin for 'Safety on their Way')

The School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) 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.

Structure

The SAOC 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).

Function

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

Joint Air Traffic Training Course (JATCC) 28 weeks long. The first 4-weeks consist of comprehensive ground school lessons focusing on meteorology; types of service and basic procedures. From the 5-week, trainee's begin their training in the ATC radar simulators where trainee's will develop their skills as Air Traffic Controllers - learning new and more complicated procedures and developing key personal attributes such as capacity; division of attention and awareness. At the end of the Radar phase which lasts 24 weeks, all trainees will sit an assessed phased locally known as '25s' - referring to the fact that the assessed period fills the spot where Exercise 25 would fit. Trainee's sit fifteen 45-minute assessed controlling seats - 5 in Director, Approach and Zone respectively. To pass, trainee's need to pass 3/5 seats in each of the 3 positions. If a trainee fails to pass, they are automatically removed from course and it is arranged for them to attend a review board. Successful completion of 25's leads trainee's onto the Radar theoretical exam requiring a percentage achieved mark of 85% before progressing onto the Tower (VCR) phase. <ref>RAF Careers 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.

See also

• College of Air Traffic Control, Hampshire, previously in Dorset
• Defence Helicopter Flying School, also at Shawbury
• UK Military Flying Training System
• United Kingdom Low Flying System (UKLFS)

Shawbury radar tower in February 2011

External links

• CATCS
• RAF Recruitment