ML AACC c.1980s

An undated photo taken some time in the mid-1980s in the Melbourne Area Approach Control Centre (AACC). This AACC operated from September 1967 until October 1988. The controller in the foreground is Juri Strante on Sector 2 Arrivals Radar, to his left is Doug Black on Sector 2 Radar and in the background is Ian Kuchel on Sector 2 Procedural. These sectors controlled traffic to the north-east of Melbourne. The equipment in use is the 'bright display' radar system. Unlike previous radar displays which had to be operated in the dark, this system could be operated in a dimly lit room.

The bright display system presented raw radar returns overlaid by a video map showing airspace, routes and other important features. There was no labelling of returns, however from July 1974 SSR returns were displayed with a geometric symbol (e.g. rectangle, triangle) depending on the code being squawked. Target identification was done mostly by distance reports or observing a directed turn. The 'joystick' seen on the right-hand end of the console controlled an Inter-Console Marker (ICM) with which one controller could relay identification of a target to another controller. Ident was maintained using 'shrimp boats' - click here to read more about shrimp boats.

The display mounted above the console is a monitor for the TAST system - Terminal Area Severe Turbulence advice. Introduced in 1975, this monitor displayed a hand-drawn diagram relayed from the Bureau of Meteorology showing the location of thunderstorm activity observed on the Bureau's weather radars in the previous 10 minutes. Simultaneously, the Flight Data Officers would produce a verbal description of the advice which was broadcast back-to-back with the ATIS. This system was of little practical value, especially considering all medium and large transport aircraft were required to be fitted with their own weather radar. It was later replaced with a display showing the weather radar picture directly.

(Photo: CAHS collection)

Click here to see a wider, earlier shot inside Melbourne AACC

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Melbourne Area Approach Control Centre c.1980s

An undated photo taken some time in the mid-1980s in the Melbourne Area Approach Control Centre (AACC). This AACC operated from September 1967 until October 1988. The controller in the foreground is Juri Strante on Sector 2 Arrivals Radar, to his left is Doug Black on Sector 2 Radar and in the background is Ian Kuchel on Sector 2 Procedural. These sectors controlled traffic to the north-east of Melbourne. The equipment in use is the 'bright display' radar system. Unlike previous radar displays which had to be operated in the dark, this system could be operated in a dimly lit room. The bright display system presented raw radar returns overlaid by a video map showing airspace, routes and other important features. There was no labelling of returns, however from July 1974 SSR returns were displayed with a geometric symbol (e.g. rectangle, triangle) depending on the code being squawked. Target identification was done mostly by distance reports or observing a directed turn. The 'joystick' seen on the right-hand end of the console controlled an Inter-Console Marker (ICM) with which one controller could relay identification of a target to another controller. Ident was maintained using 'shrimp boats' - click here to read more about shrimp boats. The display mounted above the console is a monitor for the TAST system - Terminal Area Severe Turbulence advice. Introduced in 1975, this monitor displayed a hand-drawn diagram relayed from the Bureau of Meteorology showing the location of thunderstorm activity observed on the Bureau's weather radars in the previous 10 minutes. Simultaneously, the Flight Data Officers would produce a verbal description of the advice which was broadcast back-to-back with the ATIS. This system was of little practical value, especially considering all medium and large transport aircraft were required to be fitted with their own weather radar. It was later replaced with a display showing the weather radar picture directly. (Photo: CAHS collection) Click here to see a wider, earlier shot inside Melbourne AACC Back to the main Air Traffic Services index