Office of the Historian

Department of the Army Files

Note by the Air Directorate Secretariat to the Allied Secretariat

DAIR/P(45)67 Second Revision
[Berlin,] 13 December 1945.
1.
Attached is DAIR/P(45)67, Second Revision, dated 13 December 1945, to be transmitted to the Coordinating Committee.
2.
This paper is forwarded in accordance with a decision of the Air Directorate at its Seventeenth Meeting held on 8 December 1945, to the effect that it is desirable that progress in the establishment of the Berlin Air Safety Center be brought to the attention of the Coordinating Committee. Therefore, this paper is forwarded for the information of the Coordinating Committee.
Carl J. Martin
Colonel AC Presiding Secretary
[Page 1586]
[Annex]

Report of the Aviation Committee, Air Directorate, Concerning the Organization of Berlin Air Safety Center

Organization of Berlin Air Safety Center

1. The purpose of the Organization

The organization of the Berlin Air Safety Center, as it is described in this paper, should not be regarded as inflexible or complete. This organization can be amended as experience dictates.

The Berlin Air Safety Center has been founded to establish security of flights of aircraft in the Control Zone during bad weather conditions and at night.

This should include:

a.
Prevention of collisions of aircraft.
b.
Prevention of unnecessary delay in air movements.
c.
Establishment of a proper service for search for those aircraft which are in need of help or such a service.

2. Definition

The Berlin Air Safety Center is a central organization under a coordinated control established by representatives of the U.S.S.R., United States of America, Great Britain, and France for unified control over flights of all aircraft in the Zone of the Control Center.

3. General Proposals.

1/
Under the designation Berlin Control Zone is understood the air space height up to 10,000 feet above sea level in a radius of 20 English miles from the building of the Allied Control Authority. Also an air space height of 10,000 feet above sea level in agreed air corridors which go out in a radius from Berlin to the borders of the territory of occupied Germany.
2/
Under control of the Berlin Air Safety Center will be all the aircraft which will accomplish flights, or which propose flights, under adverse meteorological conditions or at night.
3/
Under adverse meteorological conditions we understand the following conditions: visibility of less than 5 kilometers, height or ceiling of less than 300 meters.
4/
The nations will retain command and operative control over their aircraft as up until now.
5/
The crew of an aircraft which approaches the Control Zone during flight under adverse meteorological conditions, or at night, should establish communications with the Berlin Air Safety Center and inform them of the position of their flight and request instructions [Page 1587] for the flight in the respective zone. Such communications may be established through the national airfields concerned.
6/
The instructions of the Berlin Air Safety Center, as far as time is concerned, direction and height of the flight in the Control Zone during flight under adverse meteorological conditions, must be complied with and fulfilled by the crews of all aircraft of any nationality which are in the Control Zone or in approach to the Control Zone.
7/
The Berlin Air Safety Center will be in the building of the Allied Control Authority.
8/
Clearance for flights and instructions will be given by the Berlin Air Safety Center upon request with a view to securing the safety of the flight and expediting air traffic.

4. Functions of the Berlin Air Safety Center.

1/
To have regularly renewed information about the weather conditions and flying facilities over the territory of Germany. To be posted on weather forecasts.
2/
To regulate air traffic of aircraft under conditions of bad visibility or at night within the Control Zone or upon entering the same, giving the time, direction, and height of flight in the zone, thus securing the vertical and horizontal diversion of aircraft necessary to avoid collisions.
3/
To inform the air crews of aircraft approaching the Control Zone, or located in it, about weather conditions and the air situation, giving, if required, and necessary, direction to detour regions with difficult atmospheric conditions, and available free routes to the Control Zone, and airfields in case of forced landings, and other recommendations.
4/
To receive reports from airfields located within the Control Zone about landings of aircraft made at these fields.
5/
To coordinate search for aircraft on request by airfields in those cases where the aircraft is overdue one or more hours past the estimated time of arrival at this airfield.
6/
To be constantly informed about the conditions of airfields, radio means, navigational facilities, as well as other aids for flight security located in the Control Zone.
7/
To inform the airfields located within the Control Zone about proposed landings of aircraft on same, and to receive confirmation from the administration of these airfields about the readiness of the airfields to accept arriving aircraft.
8/
To receive information from airfields and also from aircraft in flight about proposed flights over Control Zone or about landings on airfields within the Zone.
9/
To compile necessary operational and statistical reports.
[Page 1588]

5. Scheme of Organization

1/
The staff of the Berlin Air Safety Center will be composed of representatives from the four Allied nations.
2/
The Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center shall be that of the nation in the chair of the Control Council, and shall be appointed from the Chief Controllers (deputy directors) presented by each nation.
3/
The Berlin Air Safety Center will be subordinated to and will be controlled by the Air Directorate.
4/
The permanent staff of the Berlin Air Safety Center will consist of, from each nation:
a. Chief Controller 1
b. Controllers 3
c. Assistant Controllers (NCO’s) 3
d. Interpreters 2
e. Typist 1
f. The necessary quantity of technical personnel for operating the equipment and means of communication of the Berlin Air Safety Center.

6. The Functional Duties of the Working Organization of the Berlin Air Safety Center.

1/
Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center carries the responsibility for organization and work of the Berlin Air Safety Center. He is responsible for the work of the organization of the Safety Center during his tour of duty. He coordinates the work of the working organization of the Safety Center. All the personnel of the organization are under his direction. He makes decisions and through his assistant gives required orders or recommendations concerning takeoffs of aircraft, order of flight in the Control Zone, etc.
The Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center will keep watch over aircraft from take-off to landing and he will initiate measures to search for overdue aircraft.
2/
Assistant to Director of Berlin Air Safety Center
a.
The Assistant Directorship shall rotate in the same manner as the Chairmanship of the Air Directorate.
b.
In the absence of the Director of the Center, during his tour of duty, will have the full authority of the Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center and carry full responsibility for all work of the Berlin Air Safety Center.
c.
Will receive reports from the Controllers of the four nations of all take-offs, landings, flights, and through flights of the aircraft of all nations and of change of position in the air. Will always know [Page 1589] the amount of the aircraft which are in flight, their position, and the conditions of the flight. Will keep track of all flights. Will always know the condition of the weather over German territory.
d.
Will give the necessary orders about flights to the Controllers of all nations for fulfillment.
e.
Will prepare a report to the Director of the Berlin Air Safety Center, or in his absence to the next higher authority, about the performance of work in the Berlin Air Safety Center.
3/
Controller
a.
Will transmit the orders of the Director or the Assistant to the Director on duty, of flights to the airfields of his own nation.
b.
Will always know the amount of aircraft of his nation which are in flight, their position, and the conditions of flight. Will make a report of changes of direction and landings to the Assistant to the Director on duty.
c.
Will keep an account about the flights of aircraft of his nation to the Control Zone, on account of take-offs and landings of aircraft in the airfields of his nation.
4/
Assistant Controller
a.
Will keep track of state of serviceability of the airfields, radio means, navigational aids, and other aids within the airfields of his nation.
b.
Will receive all reports by telephone from the technical personnel who service the radio apparatus and will transmit it to the Controller.
5/
Interpreters
Ensure mutual understanding between the officers of the working organization of the Safety Center as well as between the Center and authorities of other organizations.
6/
Technical Staff
Will service the equipment and means of communication of the Berlin Air Safety Center according to instructions.

7. Equipment necessary for the Berlin Air Safety Center

  • 1/ Means of Communication
  • 4 Radio receivers, high frequency
  • 4 Radio receivers, high frequency
  • For communication between the points and receipt of meteorological reports.
  • 2 VHF Receivers and transmitters for direct communication with aircraft in bad weather conditions.
  • 1 Radio teletype machine.
  • 2 Teletype receivers, transmitters
  • 1 Teletype receiver for the receipt of weather reports.
  • 2/ Other Equipment
  • 2 Flight progress frame assembly—No.–3038.
  • 12 Flight progress boards—No.–984
  • 2 Platforms –3037
  • 2 Stand “B”, for the disposition of aircraft.
  • 240 Flight progress trip holders.
  • 12 Chairs
  • 1 Table
  • 4 Time stamps
  • 4 Clocks
  • 4 Flight progress strip racks for filing of used strips.
  • 4 Air Traffic clearance racks for filing of issued clearance forms.
  • 3 Switchboards for 10 positions for terminating inside and outside telephones.
  • 3 Telephone monitoring jacks.
  • 2 File tables with rollers.
  • 1 Blackboard to show the condition of the airfield runways and radio serviceability.
  • 1 Blackboard for weather reports.
  • 3/ The equipment listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 will be supplied by the four Powers proportionately with the amount of air traffic of the Power to and from Berlin.

8. Preliminary Lines of Communication for the Berlin Air Safety Center

1/
For the first period of its work, as far as communications outside the Greater Berlin Area are concerned, the Berlin Air Safety Center will rely on radio communications.
2/
Telephone lines inside of Berlin with airfield duty operations officers in Tempelhof, Gatow, Staachen, Aldershof (Johannestahl) and French airfield.

9. Comments

The present paper expounds a scheme in principle for the organization of the Berlin Air Safety Center.

Robert W. Harper

Major General, U.S.A., Chairman
H. E. P. Wigglesworth

Air Marshal, Great Britain
X. De Seven

General of Division, France
T. F. Kutzevalov

Lt. Gen. of Avn., U.S.S.R.