// Eyes out
Binoculars
Why binoculars are still required equipment in a UK control tower, and how Prestwick’s controllers were photographed using them in 1944.
What it is
- Aerodrome control is a visual job. CAP 670 lists binoculars as required cab equipment: “A pair of binoculars is required” (ATC01.23).
How controllers use it
- Controllers use them to check that an aircraft’s gear is down, identify an aircraft or vehicle, watch the parts of the airfield at the edge of view, and look for birds or debris.
At Prestwick
- The 1944 RAF photographs of the Prestwick cab show controllers and a visitor scanning the airfield with binoculars.
- The AIP warns that bird numbers are assessed as “severe” during migration (Oct/Nov and Mar/Apr).
// Through the eras
| Era | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s–40s | At Prestwick (sourced) | Shown in the 1944 photographs. |
| 1950s–60s | Typical UK practice | Standard equipment. |
| 1980s–90s | Typical UK practice | Standard equipment. |
| Modern | Typical UK practice | Required by CAP 670 ATC01.23. |
// Photographs
