Changes at Ronaldsway
Airport
In 2000 A new taxiway
'Taxiway Alpha' was constructed parallel to runway 26/08. This was to enable
the former link taxiway in front of the control tower to be closed and
converted into two more stands on the main apron.The old Northern, Central,
Western and Southern taxiways were renamed 'Echo' 'Charlie ' 'Bravo' and
'Delta' with new holding points.By 2006 runway 17/35 had been closed, mainly
on safety grounds as the new cargo terminal was directly north of the runway,
this had already resulted in a considerably displaced threshold. The northern
section became taxiway 'Foxtrot', the southern section was closed but came
back into use later for parking aircraft.
   
Area Control Changes
Changes in the Area
Control boundaries resulted in Ronaldsway being at the junction of airspace
controlled by Manchester and Scottish centres. For traffic to the south
east, Manchester was still the controlling authority, but to the northwest
Scottish Centre was now in charge. Area radar facilities covering the Isle
of Man were Lowther Hill for Scottish Control and St Anne's or Great Dunn
Fell for Manchester. The S264 radar at St Anne's had been replaced by a
Plessey Watchman with co-mounted SSR, similar to that at Ronaldsway.
  
'Silent Handovers'
All flights were initially
still individually co-ordinated, but starting with Scottish a system of
'agreed levels' and silent handovers from radar controller to radar controller
was instigated, further reducing the amount of telephone calls needed.
Subsequently this was extended to Manchester Centre, inbound aircraft via
airway L10 being positioned on 'radar headings' by Manchester Control onto
the northern side of the airway and descended to Flight Level 80, whilst
outbound aircraft being positioned by Ronaldsway Radar to the south side
of the airway climbing to Flight Level 70. Usually all handovers are 'silent'
between Area and Approach, but sometimes phone co-ordination is required
to expedite traffic. All Approach ATC operations are now geared around
the use of radar, Procedural approach control is still possible in the
event of a radar failure, but with present traffic levels can result in
excessive delays to aircraft. The 'Approach' position in radar was not
used now, standard staffing being a radar controller and approach assistant,
the second radar position being opened up if traffic levels require it.
New ATC Facilities
at Ronaldsway
At Ronaldsway, both
the Visual Control Room and Radar Control Room were extensively rebuilt
with new wooden desks. Changes to the airfield lighting introduced 'Stop
Bars' - rows of red lights across the taxiways to protect against runway
incursions. This involved replacing the lighting control panel to incorporate
the necessary switching.
The Control Tower from
outside
The Visual Control Room
'Ronaldsway Tower' 118.9
     
Approach Radar Control
Room 'Ronaldsway Radar' 120.850 & 118.2
  
FRL Radar Display in
various configurations
   
Night view of Aerodrome
Control
Rebuilding ATC
The following pictures
show some of the reconstruction
work and temporary arrangements
necessary to continue providing an ATC service.
Visual Control Room
reconstruction 2001
  
Approach Radar Control
Room reconstruction 2003
     
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