{{Short description|British Ministry of Defence appointment}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Refimprove|date=March 2017}}
'''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 officer, several civil servants have held the post in the 20th century. The incumbent is a member of the Air Force Board.
==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 to the Ministry of Defence's Procurement Executive.
==Controllers== The following officers have held the post:
*9 November 1953 Air Chief Marshal Sir John Baker<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40037 |date=4 December 1953 |page=6655 |supp=y}}</ref> *1956 Air Chief Marshal Sir Claude Pelly<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Pelly.htm |title=Sir Claude Pelly |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |website=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation}}</ref> *1959 Sir George Gardner<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%200105.html |title=Society Worthies: Sir George Gardner |issue=2966 |volume=89 |page=71 |journal=Flight |date=13 January 1966}}</ref> *1963 Morien Morgan *1967 Air Marshal Sir Christopher Hartley<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Hartley_CH.htm |title=Sir Christopher Hartley |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |website=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation}}</ref> *1 September 1970 Air Marshal Sir Peter Fletcher<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45997 |date=28 August 1970 |page=7011 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Fletcher_PC.htm |title=Sir Peter Fletcher |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |website=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation}}</ref> *1 June 1973 Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45997 |date=4 June 1973 |page=7011 |supp=y}}</ref> *8 November 1975 Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=46734 |date=10 November 1975 |page=14213 |supp=y}}</ref> * 1982 David Howard Perry<ref>[https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-30603 "Perry, Sir David (Howard)"], ''Who's Who'' (online ed., Oxford University Press, 2021). Retrieved 21 September 2021.</ref> *1 January 1983 Air Chief Marshal Sir John Rogers<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49237 |date=17 January 1983 |page=759 |supp=y}}</ref> *20 January 1986 Air Marshal Sir David Harcourt-Smith<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=50405 |date=20 January 1986 |page=929 |supp=y}}</ref> *1989 Sir Donald Spiers<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/battle-of-britain-service-1552732.html |title=Battle of Britain Service |newspaper=The Independent |date=20 September 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vulcantothesky.org/faq-contact/the-trust.html |title=Trustees |website=Vulcan to the Sky Trust |access-date=16 April 2011 |archive-date=14 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514083234/http://www.vulcantothesky.org/faq-contact/the-trust.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> *1994 Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/appointments-1462524.html |title=Appointments |newspaper=The Independent |date=20 August 1993}}</ref> *1997 Air Marshal Sir Peter Norriss<ref>''Whitaker's Almanack'' (1998)</ref> *2000 Air Vice-Marshal B M Thornton<ref>{{cite web |url=http://raf.mod.uk/ptc/ |title=Air Marshal Barry Thornton CB RAF |work=RAF Personnel and Training Command |via=The National Archives |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060711181233/raf.mod.uk/ptc/ |archivedate=2006-07-11 }}</ref> *2003 Air Vice-Marshal D N Williams *April 2004 Air Vice-Marshal S G G Dalton<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7676273.stm |title=Profile: Air Marshal Stephen Dalton |website=BBC News |date=17 October 2008}}</ref> *20 April 2006 Air Vice-Marshal S D Butler<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/0382C36B_1143_EC82_2E16190213E41FA7.doc |title=Air Rank Appointments List |date=March 2006 |work=Royal Air Force}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==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}}
Category:Royal Air Force appointments Category:Aviation licenses and certifications