RCAF Air Traffic Control
Terminal Radar & Display System (TRADS)

The Baden MPN-11 radar installation was destroyed by fire in 1985. It was replaced by a MPN-14 borrowed from the Americans, complete with technicians. Plans were put in place to build a new RAPCON, and install new equipment called Terminal Radar And Display System (TRADS).

Equipment was comprised of a British Marconi ASR with ASTRID displays, the same Cardion SSR used by TRACS, and a CML Canada COM Node II voice switch. The tower also received this equipment, which included an independent RSD. From 1986 to 1987, tower operations were conducted out of the somewhat austere, (port-a-potti ­ ask Suzanne Hewitt), alternate tower facilities, as the main tower was undergoing refurbishment and operational acceptance. In 1986 the officer staff was increased to support RAPCON operations, which were conducted out of the MPN-14 until 1987, with Lahr being the terminal control agency, and Baden having some low-level airspace as an arrival agency. Craig Isenor was the first Chief Controller RAPCON of this new era.

The move to the new RAPCON facility was made in 1987, and Baden assumed IFR responsibility for all the TMA airspace 10,000 and below north of the Red 7 airway that ran overhead Lahr. Hi-level recoveries at Baden were fired off the IAF by Lahr into the low-level Baden mix. Communications control was supposed to occur at FL200, with IFR jurisdiction at 10,000. It was an interesting operation, to say the least. I had the honour of being the first chief controller RAPCON of a TRADS installation, and, when I moved on to S&TO, I was succeeded by Ray Massé, who had the dubious honour of being Baden’s last chief controller RAPCON.

The new RAPCON building was inside the GRA, adjacent to the golf clubhouse. Our newly constructed shot-cut through the “wire” was quickly discovered and closed as a security risk. Ray Massé routinely strolled along the “wire” during his smoke breaks, and accumulated a massive collection of errant golf balls, that over-flowed from his desk drawers.

TRADS was subsequently installed in Lahr, and a mosaic of the two search radars extended low level coverage and eliminated the overhead blind spots of the respective sites. In 1988, Lahr assumed responsibility for IFR control within the TMA, and Baden reverted to a GCA operation.