// VCCS & direct lines
Voice switch and telephones
The tower’s voice communications system and direct telephone lines: to Scottish Control at NATS Prestwick Centre next door, the airport fire service and HMS Gannet.
What it is
- The VCCS (voice communications control system) puts the tower’s radios, direct telephone lines (landlines) and intercom on one panel. CAP 670 COM03 requires “direct, rapid, continuous and intelligible two-way voice communications”.
- Direct lines connect with one key press, no dialling. At a tower like Prestwick they typically go to the area control centre, the airport fire service, airport operations and neighbouring units.
How controllers use it
- Arrivals are routed in by Scottish ACC (UK AIP arrival procedures), which works from NATS Prestwick Centre, the area control centre next door to the airport. Releases and inbound handovers are co-ordinated on the direct line.
- On a direct line the caller still identifies clearly, e.g. “Prestwick Tower” (CAP 493 on telephone procedures).
- Example: the tower presses the Scottish key to request a release for a departure, gets a squawk and a clearance, then transmits it on 118.155.
UK rules and practice
- RTF is recorded; faults are reported to the engineers; standby RTF and the emergency telephone are tested at least daily (CAP 493 S7 Ch 2).
At Prestwick
- NATS Prestwick Centre (opened 2010) combines the Manchester, Scottish and Oceanic area control centres, handling about 42% of UK traffic (NATS).
- Public numbers in the AIP: ATC Operations 01292-511107, AFS (airport fire service) 01292-511108, Airfield Ops 01292-511190, HMS Gannet 01292-674217.
Typical UK practice: Prestwick’s VCCS make and the exact list of direct lines are not public; the lines above are typical of a UK tower.
// Through the eras
| Era | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s–40s | At Prestwick (sourced) | The 1944 photographs show controllers on handset telephones at the cab desk. |
| 1950s–60s | Typical UK practice | Bakelite telephones and a key-and-lamp panel for direct lines are typical of the period. |
| 1980s–90s | Typical UK practice | An illuminated key panel combining radio and landlines is typical. |
| Modern | Typical UK practice | A touchscreen VCCS is typical; the make at Prestwick is not public. |
// Photographs
