communicated to Not to beutside HM Service DCIRN 160 one 0 . a~ Yh ut authority 1 wit 0

Defence Instructions

By Command of the Defence Council DCls are automatically

-, . • • • cancelled after 1 year

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 20 May 1988

Special Issue

Fleet Air Arm formation of the Aircraft Control Branch (U) 160/88 Fleet Air of the Aircraft Control Bra INMT/120/6/~Ch . 7970MB

Aircraft Control (AC) Bran W1 e ee Ann. Ratlngsofth ays entry will undel-take the Helicopter Control (HC) and Air llaffic Control (~~a~ currently CBllied out by members of the Radar Sub-Branch and N )du~ (Aircraft Handler) Branch holding the appropriate adqual. aVa),

2. There have long bee~ insufficient nu m bers ofproperly qualified ratin and ATC duties, and this has advelsely affected manning, drafting ~for}jC development. The new Branch will remedy this situati?n and provide a~career upon which to develop and enhance the stsmdanJs of an craft COntrol and . ~ management in the Fleet. ~ Entry to the branch

3. The AC Branch will be somced by suitably qualified and recommernkll personnel ofany non-technician branch at the Leading rate or AB level. Provisional entry will be by selection from volunteers who meet the entry criteria (ANNEx A, The training and CBI eer pattern are at B. Volunteers will be required to complete successfully AC Branch glading ( X C) and pass the Air Traffic Assistants (ATAC) at RAF Shawbury ( X D). Final acceptance into the AC Branch will take place only when a full helicopter control qualilicationlw been awarded. No requirements for a WRNS AC Category is foreseen at present

4. Ratings ah eady holding a valid HC, AATC or ATe adquaJ may apply to transfer to the AC Branch subject to age, experience and manning c1e8l'alK'! Arrangements al e at X E.

5. Ratings will not be tt'ansfened compulsorily into the AC Branch. HC and ATC qualified RN ratings who choose not to transfer will continue in their preeenl employment pattern while a requirement for their skills remains,

6. Ratings wishing to transfer must have five years to serve or be serving 011; open engagement on the date ofapplication. They must be under 26 yearsofage H meet the medical standa! d for Operations Blanch (Radar) detailed in will t- of B~ 1705A. Handbook of Naval Medical Standa ..Js. AC • rHeCqulred to give a minimum of years' RetmD of Service cow'se. three after

Draru~ Naval Air COIII.mand, FONAC HQ, Yeovilton, to the ca~t~ for transfer and' th talDlng the Commanding Ofiicer s will be cal'l'ied ~~~ b e ;~'N of ABa advancement to rate tp Branch Y AC and, AdJniralty Board have approved a design for the AC B The -r F ranch badge which g. j\NNE~ . , is st The work on th~ fith°I'm;:io~ ofd~e AC. Branch has understslndabl 9. bIe interest ID e ee an given nse to some COnj~ Y created copSider~ ns for those involved in ailCl·aft control and ail as to the POSSible iJllplicat~~on team will be available on request to visit shipss::. A prese~ta the introductory arrangements and answer individ I estab~Jshments to desCrtbe NEX G ua qUestlons. Details are at AN . o The following Rate titles and abbreviations have been approved. 1 . L ding Aircraft Controller LAC pe: ty Officer Aircraft Controller POAC C~iefPettY Officer Aircraft Controller CPOAC Warrant Officer WO(AC)

11. Advance warning of these a lTan~ements was given in MOD UK Navy signal KKB /WGBIWH B 151430Z Mar 88 whlch announced that the operative date would be the 24 Mar 88.

12. Publications. BR 1066 will be amended. In the meantime, a copy of this instruction is to be retained within the coverll of BR 1066, and is to be removed only when its contents have been incorporated in the text by the next routine amendments.

A

for Ai I'(!l aft Control :. PrOvisiOnally selected by FONAC. . AhcraftControl Glading(ACG). c. Fhre y . . ears to serve from date ofapplicatiOn. 3 Air Traffic Assistants Course (ATAC) Air Traffic Assistants Course. 8. E' ht months service in a Naval Air Station. b. Ig DA-mmended for HC c. '"""" HC

8. HC Course. b. VG Conduct. Acting Leading Ail craft Controller

ANNExe

Training and Career Pattern 1. AC grading will take place at RNSHC Portland and consist of a two w k package containing basic Air Traffic Control and Warfare procedures. Full de~~ are at ANNEX C. Each candidate will undergo a series of tests culminating with the AC Branch trainability test. The relevant section of the History Sheet for all candidates will be completed as follows: a. Passed AC Branch grading. b. Unsuitable for AC Branch.

2. Following successful grading, ratings will undertake the three week ATAC Course at the Central Air Traffic Control School, RAF Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (see ANNEX D). Upon successful completion, candidates will be draftro to a complement billet at a Naval Air Station for up to eight months to carry out control tower duties prior to commencing the Helicopter Control Course at RNSHC Portland. This period will enable non Fleet Air Ann ratings to familiarize themselves with naval aviation. Non Ops branch ratings will be provided with an introduction to AlO and the Ops Room.

3. The Helicopter Control Course will be the Professional Qualifying Course for Leading Aircraft Controller (LAC). The course aims to qualify each student~: H C .N A TO grade C or D depending upon the number of hours live control achie~C durmg the course. Successful students will be formally tIsDsferred to the . Branch as Acting Leading Ail craft Controllers (ALAC) (Scale B) from the lastila) of the course. Full tactical and system training will take place at HMSD~ pn: to. first ~ea draft in an HC billet. Confirmation after 12 months in the actmg 18 wlll be m accordance with BR 1066 Chapter 3 and Article 0414. fl~x' b·~~gh drafted to a different class of ship, This will serve to impro~C will be I. I I Y and broaden the AC ratings in the Fleet. The (pE reqUIred to complete a taskbook and 'tte Provisional nota for POA~. Shore service as an LAC . a wn ntroltowerdutiesbuttbiSlS prerequIsite fi d Invol ve con or a vancement to POAC.

4 •

Cs who successfully compl~te ~he PE will be awarded Se 5, LA for POAC. Upon nommatlOn for the POAC Pr £ ~e A pay and join the ros~;QC), ratings will attend the 17 week Joint Air ';:~~lonal Qualifying Course at RAF Shawbury (ANNEX J ). Successful stude c Control Course ' J ATC~)n at a Naval Air Station in an ATC billet AdvancementtstowAPIU proceed to lidatlo BRI066 Ch te 3 C nfi' n OAC wiU be v8 dance with ap r . 0 ll'Illation as a POAC 'U be OT in BCC ccessful validation in Aerodrome Control and PrecisionWIA dehpendent upon sU '1' th POAC PQC b pproac Radar AR) Those fal mg e or su sequent initial validaf ·u rP ~ d to LAC (Scale B) and be required to complete the taskbook 1~~EWI ,be ~uv~he r attempts at the PQC will be at the discretion of FONAC. an agam.

6, Fighter Controll~rs. Suitably qualified and recommended senior rates may vo lunteer for .the F.lg~ter Controller co:urse at RNSFC Yeovilton. Such opportunities WIll .be llI~llted and m~mbers dictated solely by·the requirements of the Service. SelectIOn Will be on ment by FONAC.

7, Promotion beyond POAC will be in accordance with BR1066. The qualifications for advancement are at ANNEX J and will be incorporated into BRI066,

8, In addition to the Upper Yardman scheme, promotion opportunities from the lower deck will be in accordance with BR1066 Chapter 9.

ANNExe

Aircraft Control Branch Grading L AC Branch grading (ACG) takes place at RNSHC Portland and lasts for two weeks, It aims to introduce the principles of aircraft control and airspace management and to establish an applicant's potential ability as a controller. Each student will undertake a series of practical tests culminating with the AC Branch atram ' allb'l't y test which combines elements of the current HC aptItu. d e tes, t ATC, r tude test and Fighter Control aptitude test. Table 1 promulgates AC grading ates for 1988.

2, Dur' h h Id' current HC qu 1'6 l~g t e transition period, ratings already 0 m~ a . d th:t~lcatlOn will not be required to take the full two weeks gradmg bll:t wIll ::~r 1988. ree day short AC grading (SACG). Table 2 gives Short AC grading da

3, Ap r d ferred and a1tern t~ lcants for transfer to the AC branch should inclu e a pre a We date. rable 1 A --.. - C Grading Dates ACG No. Date ACG No. Date 1 2 11 Jul 88 3 21 Nov88 18Sep88 4 23Jan89 5 Short AC grading Table 2 · • " • ACG No • Date ACG No. Date 30 May 88 4 05 D(:c8fl J 04JuJ 88 5 27 Fcbfl9 2 3 170ct88

ANNEXO The Air Traffic Assistants Course

1 The three week Air Traffic Assistants COUI'se will take at the Joint l:.. Traffic Control School at RAF Shawbury, Shrewsbury, I\Q' throughput will be 36 students per year, maximum six students per clue

2. The aim of the course is to produce Air Traffic Control with sufficient knowledge and skill to achieve operational their first unit after undergoing a period of on-the-job training.

3, The course will consist of two weeks and 1 week simulator bammg, A simple breakdown of the comse is: The Air Traffic Assistants

Classroom Practical Total Subject (hours) (hours) (hours)

Air Traffic Control 45 15 60 Navigation 2 I 3 Meteorolgy 3 3 Signals 8 3 11 Simulator Exercises 24 24 Examinations 2 1 3 Flight Safety 3 3 Course Administration 5 2 7 ,

68 46 114 •

ANNEXE

TranMtion 1. The AC Branch' .e..11 • During the tr 't' 1.8 to take at least five to groW to JUU an81 Ion the c.10 11 OWIng . arrangements Wl'11 app 1y. 2. Ratings a1 ad . UgibJe 10 volunteer to trar: y holding a full HC, ATe or AATC adq~1 are e ite(lllll has qualified and ). daceep~nce into the AC branch will occur onlY VI that not all personnel holdi VB 1 ated In both HC and ATe duties. It is the J,C Branch. ng HC or ATe adquals will automatically qualify for

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ANN XJ

Quallti atl tor Cl Iv 11 OIlI(:t1t Acting Lt uding Air 'rut (onlrollt·r n, Ollt'V lllr' erv kll in d ing Lt IHllIIg I{ It b. Ht'I'(\lIl1llt'lUit,d fin" confirmHI ion (' COll1plt'lt'u Lt'llumg 1{"teH I '1I11t·, hip ( IIlIt

Lead ing Air 'I'Iln lIlItt 0111'1 11 , Cornplett\ 'I'aflkbook foJ' POAC h, I{ cmnm Hid ,d for Wl'lt t.( 11 1 I'\IVIHlOllill ... 1u\11f)1I1 IlII1 " Pa, Hed P(i~ fUI" POAC tBUHic (hilt'\.

Join l'Ofltf'r 1'01' Pt Uy, omn'l' t 11 I nt1 CUIII lull 'I

li '[ it wo ,Y(.flrH flO" Ice HH LAC' illt'iUtlll* lid illH I \lilt', b, G lnonthly llIerit rt'port.fll'Il4U1rt· Ilh.ll1l hll k dlllt' c, tit::i iAHued by drafting Iluthorlty,

d Re 'o!\IIllf'lIded fi .. ad IHIH.:t'lllt nt, p, VG 'onduct,

Aeting p(ltty Offiem' it'l'l'!lll t'ontrol\t'l'

l:l , 12 mOllthH flfW ic, IUI un Acting l't tty om '{'" (AC), L PllHHfld PruttlHAiouti 1 QuuHf ing ('our, t' (J 'I'n ')

c !t(ICOUlIIHmdml tor O!lfirrllatlOl1 l'n.cL 11111 AVpr 1 I h ,I t' . 'rouru\llt' Conlnll d, •Ll 1I Id '1'( VU \.luU 1011 UI ' Hmi ltudul' 9 Petty Officer Aircraft Controller • nnual reports from date of advancement to Acting Petty Officer a. A d. Less than 22 years reckonable service (Unless serving on 20E).

ompleted Petty Officers Leadership Cou I se. e. f. R,ecotn mended for promotion. g. Selected by Board. h.~ Promotion notification issued by drafting authority. j. YG Conduct. Chief Petty Officer Aircraft Controller a. Annual reports required from date of promotion. b . . 1inimtllll three years service as a Chief Petty Officer AirClaftController c. Less than 22 years reckon able service (Unless serving on 20E). d. Educationally Qualified (Art 0409). e. Selected by board. f. Re-engage on 20E. g. Promotion notification issued by drafting authority. Recom mended for promotion. j. T G Conduct.

Wanant Oflicer