Sophie Hayes
SATCO Senior Air Traffic Controller at Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire
For many, walking into the ‘new’ control tower at Cranfield Airport could be a surprise. Firstly, it’s not on the airport and it’s not in a tower. Instead, it’s in a suite of offices about half a mile from where the old tower stood. There are a few windows and tables and the only connection to what’s happening on the field is through an arc of TV screens connected to each other, showing a 360 degree view of Cranfield Airport. To provide this view, several cameras are found all over the airfield, the ultimate CCTV.
Originally built on over 100 acres of farmland, Cranfield Airport was acquired by the Air Ministry in June 1935 in preparation for the hostilities ahead. Two years later, on June 1st, 1937, it was formally opened and became home for numbers 62 and 82 squadrons of No. 1 Bomber Group. The airfield would host a number of different aircraft including the Hawker Hind and the Bristol Blenheim. During its life, it has been home to many Chief Flying Instructors (CFIs) but none more famous than Guy Gibson who went on to lead the famous Dambuster Raid of 1947.
Since those war years, Cranfield has had a varied and interesting history. In 1945 it became the home for the new College of Aeronautics, now Cranfield University. It helped develop the Harrier Jump Jet and even the TSR2; runs aquaplaning trials and was a temporary home to ETPS. It even helped service the memorial flights for the Spitfire, Hurricane and the Lancaster. It was home to the Cabair College of Air Training and now hosts a variety of flight schools including L3 Harris recently moved from Bournemouth. Last year, Marshalls Aerospace at Cambridge announced it would be relocating to Cranfield and so the future for ‘EGTC’ looks strong.
Cranfield University, renowned for its post-graduate courses, owns the airport which gives it a unique campus feel. Almost 10% of the movements are business aviation. Flight instruction, private flying and flying for research and development make up the remainder. The Met Office run their two BAe 146 research platform aircraft from their Cranfield base and the AAIB run their accident investigator training courses. In charge of all the flying activities on the airfield, from a controller’s perspective, is Sophie Hayes. She is Cranfield’s Senior Air Traffic Control Officer and today, the doors of the new Tower have been opened to Flight Training News.
At just 38, Sophie is a young SATCO. Her dad, a private pilot, used to fly from Denham and although she was never bitten by the flying bug herself, she loved the atmosphere around the airfield and the sense of community amongst the pilots. In her late teens, she seized the opportunity to work part time in the Denham tower as an AFISO before going to Newcastle University where she studied Physics, Archaeology and Psychology. In those days, to qualify as an AFISO involved an RT test, written papers in Navigation, Meteorology, Air Law and procedures as well as ‘on the job training’ (OTJ). It also required an interview with the Authority at Gatwick.
Following University, Sophie continued to work as an AFISO at Denham but learned that a vacancy for an ATC Assistant’s position at Cranfield was about to be advertised. It was March, 2008, Sophie was 24. She applied and was offered the position. Just five months’ later, Cranfield was keen to expand and Sophie was sent on a basic tower controller’s course in Wales. Returning to Cranfield, more on the job (OTJ) training continued and in 2009, Sophie attended a Procedural Course. Another 8 weeks, more OTJ training and a test with the CAA and she was now qualified in both main roles of ATC Cranfield, Tower and Approach. In 2012, she became the Tower Safety Officer, in 2014, the Deputy SATCO and in 2017, she was appointed SATCO and just a year before the introduction of the new Digital Control Tower.
Who or what inspired you to follow this career?
I’m afraid I rather fell into it! Both my parents have been tremendously supportive but my father was the one who introduced me into the world of aviation. I never wanted to fly but just loved the community spirit I felt at the airfield.
But did you have any mentors? Anyone who inspired you to become a controller?
Not really so much in aviation. I loved the great scientists and especially physicists, such people like Richard Feynman and Stephen Hawking. They inspired me with their tenacity and determination.
The Digital Tower has replaced the old control tower and taken controllers into a room with TV screens. The clarity of the pictures is impressive as is the 360-degree view and the ability to ‘see’ above the tower. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages?
The new tower is beautifully spacious, air conditioned and a very comfortable place to work. In the ‘old’ tower days it was either freezing in the winter of unbearably hot in the summer – just like a greenhouse. The tower and procedural controller work alongside each other.
In controlling terms there really are no disadvantages. The picture clarity, the ambience of the room we work in all make this an ideal controlling environment. However, we are no longer in the Centre of the airfield and some of the airfield ambience and gossip are lost. There seems less interaction with other operators on the airfield except when we have our monthly meeting. So, the disadvantage is the feeling of not quite being the central part of the airfield.
What is the team?
In the ‘tower’ we have 3 assistants, 2 engineers, 6 dual rated controllers, 2 tower controllers and a manager. The Tower and Approach controllers sit just feet apart. It’s not all concentration and there are some quiet moments when controllers will chat with each-other.
Does the Digital Tower restrict the number of aircraft you can control?
Not really; we can only operate up to two aircraft in the hold as we are restricted by altitude not our systems;, three aircraft are allowed in the circuit and two at various positions on the approach. It’s rare that we have to turn traffic away but it’s important to regulate the number we are controlling irrespective of a normal or a digital tower. We are proud of our RNP approach, our ILS and our NDB. As you know, Oxford does not have one and nor does Bournemouth. It makes us a popular chose for Instrument Rating tests.
Could you see your digital tower moving to Swanwick alongside London City?
No, but I do foresee a day when we will have working radar at Cranfield. We can see ADSB but we are not allowed to use it. Yes, the conspicuity squawk is to tell neighbouring airfields that aircraft are under our control.
Surely you must miss looking at real aircraft?
No, that was never a driver for me. As I said before, it is the airfield community I most enjoy and working off the field as we do, impacts upon that feeling. However, not one controller we have here has indicated they’d like to return to the old tower. We expect the digital tower is the tower of the future and be a game changer for the less busy airfields which could all be controlled from a single station.
As SATCO, how much control do you have in the selection of your team?
Well, my entire team has been picked by me. There was a time when there were just two of us. The common theme is that we all really enjoy working here and the opportunities it gives us. The atmosphere is always very positive. I aim to allow the controllers’ personal development. We are a young thinking and keen team.
Is there much regulation following in your job?
Bucket loads! I have to keep up with all the changing regulations. This is not really a negative as I enjoy this side of controlling and it serves an important purpose.
Presumably, your job doesn’t leave much time left for actual controlling?
I still love the ‘day job’. In particular I love Approach Controlling and I have to control for at least 16 hours per month (8 in each role) to maintain my licence.
Do you allow in-house examining of your controllers?
No, we could, but to maintain standards I insist that everyone here is assessed by the CAA. Yes, it’s more expensive but it ensures a common and a very high standard.
You’ve mentioned the word ‘team’ several times today. How important is it being a team player. What other attributes does a successful controller require?
Every unit is different but teamwork is so very important. Each of our controllers and assistants will work with everybody from time to time. Cranfield controllers need to be adaptable, succinct, calm, quick thinking, patient and able to think on their feet. We don’t have ‘watches’ as such. We all work as a team. I also have an excellent Deputy, whose strengths, I believe, compliment mine. He is also an expert on UAVs.
You didn’t mention intelligent. Isn’t intelligence important?
Good controllers don’t need degrees or A levels, but they do need common sense, an ability to talk to people and to communicate clearly. They also need good spatial awareness, a term I know you use in the cockpit. Yes, we also talk about threats and errors and good or bad CRM.
How fit do you have to be?
Our medical is a Class 3 and therefore not as strict as a pilots but there are lots of similarities.
How ethnically diverse are you in ATC generally? Is being a controller a well-paid job?
Honestly, we’re not sufficiently diverse. I feel our industry should make more effort to attract a more diverse spectrum of people. We should be visiting schools and universities. Salaries are extremely attractive and SATCOs even at small units could be earning salaries approaching the high 80s and even £90,000. Sadly we no longer offer subsidised flight training for our new recruits.
You’ve been working at Cranfield for over ten years, have you noticed any significant changes in how pilots communicate with ATC, standard of RT etc?
Generally RT is quite good as is their ability to communicate. If I had a complaint, I wonder if students are as ‘cared for’ as they were in days gone by. It is rare for instructors to come to our ‘new tower’. In the old days, it was commonplace.
Do you think women make better controllers?
No, I make no differentiation between the sexes but I’m told, women’s voices on the radio can be clearer.
Do you take your job home with you or does it stop as you leave the building?
No, I do take the job home with me but I’m keen to get a good work/life balance.
So, outside of ATC, what are your interests?
I am a keen reader, especially crime novels. I’m also halfway through completing a Master’s Degree – yes, here at Cranfield – in Forensic Investigation. This uses Analytical Techniques of investigation, is very different to the world of controlling but could easily be adapted to aid accident investigation.
The visit was interesting. The state-of-the-art control tower was amazing as was the clarity of the images and its adaptability. One day, at the flick of a switch one can be at a remote Scottish airport, the next London City without the need to employ a multitude of controllers.
As a pilot, however, I feel more comfortable in the knowledge that a controller is looking at a real runway and a real aircraft when I’m cleared to land or take-off. Sadly I’m in the minority but I also hate self service tills at the supermarket.
Sophie was a good host and clearly extremely proud of the team and the capabilities of the new technology. I figure the team is equally proud of her and grateful that she is at the helm.
David Hoy ©