Victory Report: Happy Landings: aircraft landing systems - 21 Apr [1975-1986]

Title

Victory Report: Happy Landings: aircraft landing systems - 21 Apr [1975-1986]

Description

Report on new rival automatic landing systems for aircraft developed by Britain and America and the decision to be taken in Montreal by the International Civil Aviation Authority on which should be adopted for use. Introduction: programme concerns finding the right type of automatic landing equipment for the next generation of the world’s aircraft, the International Civil Aviation Authority in Montreal have been trying to decide between British and American systems. British system developed by Plessey Radar at Cowes IOW has been rejected in favour of American. Documentary recorded before decision made. GUY PAYNE: 2 systems: 1- TRSB, American, uses phased array antennae generating azimuth and elevation guidance [azimuth - horizon, elevation: up and down guidance: signals] 2- DMLS [Doppler Microwave Landing System] - British uses commutated array for generating both azimuth and elevation guidance signals for all levels of operations, sqquential nature of DMLS signal generations, inherent, simplicity of system. PETER VIGGERS, MP for Gosport, have been wide range of landing systems, only one British system. Two outstanding developments: Doppler [British] and American [wide scanning beam]. Pilot relies on tuning into beacon [invisible search light] to make safe landings, maintain position within beam to know where you are. Both new systems allow pilot to know where he is even though not directly within beam. US - have widened beam BRITAIN, better, new system of looped beams enabling pilot to approach from various directions, superior system. TONY NELSON, MP for Chichester, most important is to choose safest system, British system seems best, but if American were shown to be better, choose that. GEOFFREY WILLIAMS, senior lecturer in political sciences at Portsmouth Polytechnic, Aviation experts should be able to decide, but also subjective views of Civil Aviation Authority, governments, etc., will affect decision, many subjective interests, but is a genuine desire for objectivity because of safeguarding passengers. TONY NELSON: role of government is choose system. Problem, international political pressures and support for American system, Russian and Australians have helped American project. World opinion has shifted towards British system after favourable tests. GEOFFREY WILLIAMS: 120 airlines, powerful pressure groups, implications for British, American and Australian economies. Aerospace industry needs contracts. Doppler system is fully researched and cost-effective, cheaper than American American system theoretically brilliant but untested. British system - new and original, researched, developed and tested. This is choice available. Consensus emerging in favour of best system, but what is best, no objective test for this, but anxiety to get this right. PETER VIGGERS COST: size of market: 100 million pounds for re-equipping world’s airports and airlines, also military applications. Any decision good for electronics industry in Britain GEOFFREY WILLIAMS: No decision much worse than wrong decision because of resulting unemployment Principles same way in which problems solved different. Objections to British system, probably partly based on fact offers genuinely interoperable system between different aircraft, technological breakthrough, military considerations. Report that American system has been chosen. [Box 6]

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Duration

00:24:30

Misc. notes

Gauge:-1/8 inch tape

Production company

Radio Victory

Extent

1 tape

Credits

Presenter

Guy Payne

Interviewees

Peter Viggers; Tony Nelson; Geoffrey Williams