Royal Navy - Retired Air Traffic Control Officers (RATCO)

Welcome to the site for the exchange of memories, current thoughts and future events of the RATCO association.   Although most visitors and regular users will be retired from the branch, membership is also open to ATCOs of the RAF and foreign services who have served with the RN and to serving RN ATCOs approaching discharge whom we warmly welcome.

We are a diverse crowd of men and women following many paths since life in uniform, some fully retired but many pursuing second careers. Some members remain engaged in ATC/ATM through their businesses, as controllers and in senior management posts in the UK and abroad. 

We aim to foster greater virtual contact, run social gatherings (formal and informal) and from time to time circulate a news sheet.  In terms of virtual content, we are starting with Social Events, History, and post RN activities, and we seek your words, pictures and links.  So please send your input to Paddy White at martinvention@btinternet.com or any of the committee.  

There is also a RATCO forum for use by registered members using the link at the bottom of the page.  This is  under development and hopefully will flourish with your interest and input.  Invitations to join the forum have been sent to all known members E-mail addresses.  If you have been missed please ask to join and confirm your current E-mail address. The forum E-mail default is, no E-mail for new posts, but if you would like to be E-mailed when there are new posts just log into the forum and change your profile defaults.

There is no membership fee or subscription and if you would like to join contact our secretary: davidbrocklebank53@gmail.com


Fresh News

1. I regret to inform you that Nigel Shirlaw died on Monday 23rd December 2019, after a heart attack. Nigel served from 1971-79,  (Portland/Ark Royal/Culdrose) before a second career in the UAE, retiring in 2013. The funeral will take place on 22nd January in Chester. The service will be confined to close family only. 

2. Reunion Dinner 2020.  This will be held at The Kings Arms in Charlton Horthorne on Sat 9 May and hopefully all members will now have full details. 

3.  Feedback seems to suggest that the next reunion be held 18mth after the Sep dinner. So 2019 may be a "blank" year. The committee wish you all a very happy  Christmas and a rewarding New Year. 

 













RATCOs Only Forum

                                                              Click on the tower to enter the members only area.
                                                                        

   With Thanks to Tim Cartoon for graphics above.