High time for a return to EMA’s tower for villagers 25 years on
East Midlands Airport granted the wish of a group of Diseworth residents who visited the Air Traffic Control tower when it was built 25 years ago and felt it was high time they returned.
Ten villagers were given a special trip up the 51-metre tower which can be seen from Diseworth which neighbours the airport – six of whom were there in April 1999 when construction had been completed.
EMA’s Community Engagement Manager Colleen Hempson organised the return trip as a way to mark the silver anniversary of the tower – the fourth tallest in the UK – and give residents an insight into what goes on inside the landmark they see on a daily basis from their homes and gardens.
The group was given the opportunity to see the spectacular 360-degree views across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire from the visual control room, while ATC staff explained what they do and the high-tech equipment they use to safely control around 200 daily flights at EMA. They also saw behind the scenes in the radar room at the foot of the tower which monitors aircraft movements in the 150sq miles of airspace up to 10,500ft around the airport. And they were given a demonstration of a training simulator which creates highly realistic computer images of the airfield to give operatives a safe way to test out various scenarios.
One of the Diseworth residents, Caroline Jarrom, said: “We came 25 years ago, quite a few of us came from the village. You could walk straight across the airport back then and the buildings that now surround the tower weren’t there – it stood all on its own.
“There was also no equipment in it at the time – but at least they had installed a lift before we got there! It has been fascinating to see it again and get an insight into the work people in Air Traffic Control do. It’s nice when you see the tower every day that you can say ‘I’ve been up there!’”
Colleen Hempson said: “It was a pleasure to give residents from Diseworth an opportunity to see what goes on inside our ATC tower. They see the tower and planes every day, and now can make more sense of the effort and expertise which goes into keeping the skies around the airport safe.”
Pictured are the original group returning 25 years later, left to right, Elizabeth Jarrom, William Jarrom, Adele Jarrom, Ian Marshall holding a commemorative mug from 1999, Albert Whittaker and Caroline Jarrom
