78 Squadron at Swanwick is an Air Command Unit embedded within the London Area Control Centre run by National Air Traffic Services.
The Distress and Diversion Cell is an emergency centre ready to assist aircraft in distress. The Military Airspace Booking and Co-ordination Cell manage the segregation of large areas of airspace for unrestricted military training. The Radar Analysis Cell work closely with the UK Airprox Board to provide radar data for investigations.
Wing Commander Miller joined the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller in 2004.
She took command of 78 Squadron at Swanwick in August 2020 following a tour at the Space and Battlespace Management Force Headquarters and attending Advanced Staff Training at the Defence College Shrivenham.
There were three main military area radar units in the United Kingdom; RAF Sopley, RAF Lindholme and RAF Watton. In 1959, area radar control was introduced to RAF Sopley. During 1960s and 1970s both civil and military controllers worked there being known as the Southern Radar.
Also in the late 1950s, RAF Lindholme became the home of the Northern Radar. It provided radar services across the country using its Type 82 radar as well as links to other military radar heads.
In the mid 1960s RAF Watton became the home of Eastern & Border radar. Eastern radar operated between 1965-1988 and Border radar operated between 1989-1992.
In 1966 the London Air Traffic Control Centre opened in West Drayton and was the area radar hub for many years.
2002 saw civilian area radar units move to Swanwick whilst the military and terminal control centres remained at West Drayton. It wasn’t until 2007 / 2008 that all radar units were located at Swanwick along with the Distress and Diversion Cell.
Northern radar, initially at Lindholme, moved to RAF Prestwick in Scotland until December 2013 when the military controllers all co-located to Swanwick. North civilian counterparts remain at Prestwick.
