Controller Aircraft (CA), originally Controller of Aircraft, is a senior ( 3 star) British Ministry of Defence appointment who is responsible for delivering an airworthy aircraft to the Services, whereupon the Service issues a Release to Service (RTS), releasing the aircraft into service. The difference between CA Release and RTS is normally one of Build Standard. Although usually held by a

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

officer, several civil servants have held the post in the 20th century. The incumbent is a member of the

Air Force Board The Air Force Board of the Defence Council is responsible for the management of the Royal Air Force. Prior to the creation of the current UK Ministry of Defence in 1964, the administration of the RAF and its personnel was undertaken by the ...

History

Prior to 1953, the equivalent responsibilities were held by Controller of Supplies (Air). In 1971 the post was moved from the

Ministry of Technology The Ministry of Technology was a department of the government of the United Kingdom, sometimes abbreviated as "MinTech". The Ministry of Technology was established by the incoming government of Harold Wilson in October 1964 as part of Wilson's am ...

to the Ministry of Defence's Procurement Executive.

Controllers

The following officers have held the post: *9 November 1953

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British i ...

Sir John Baker *1956 Air Chief Marshal Sir Claude Pelly *1959 Sir George Gardner *1963 Morien Morgan *1967 Air Marshal Sir Christopher Hartley *1 September 1970 Air Marshal Sir Peter Fletcher *1 June 1973 Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler *8 November 1975 Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe * 1982 David Howard Perry *1 January 1983 Air Chief Marshal Sir John Rogers *20 January 1986 Air Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith *1989 Sir Donald Spiers *1994 Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin *1997 Air Marshal Sir Peter Norriss *2000 Air Vice-Marshal B M Thornton *2003 Air Vice-Marshal D N Williams *April 2004 Air Vice-Marshal S G G Dalton *20 April 2006 Air Vice-Marshal S D Butler

References

External links

*{{cite web , url=http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/AirMin2A.htm , title=Air Council Appointments: Controller Aircraft , first=M. B. , last=Barrass , website=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation Royal Air Force appointments Aviation licenses and certifications