Airliner ATC in 1963

Another interesting vintage film, this time from the FAA and showing how air traffic control worked in 1963. From what I know, things really haven't changed all that much since, but I'm hoping that those of you who are in the know will add appropriate comments.

Still quite a few propliners at O'Hare in '63, and you can spot Eastern Electras and United Viscounts as well.

 

That will eliminate the terminal whose interior was seen in the movie "Airport". Some years ago I was delayed four hours when our incoming 757 had a flap jackscrew fail before landing and the airplane had to be taken out of service. I had lunch in a restaurant that was directly beneath Mel Bakersfeld's second-floor office as seen in the movie.

 

That was a throwback to pre-jetway days when aircraft would park parallel to the terminal and two stairways were used, one for first class and one for coach. For a number of years, two jetways were used similarly; this can be seen in the movie "Airport". But that used up too much space, so the straight-in approach with a single jetway replaced it.

Some jumbo jets on international flights still use two jetways, but the doors for these are usually side-by-side and the aircraft still park straight-in.