Catalogue description Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and successors: Divisional Controller Southern Division: Registered Files (SO Series)

The Civil Aviation Divisional Controller Southern Division was part of the Civil Aviation Division, itself part of Aerodromes General Division.

Supervision of the day-to-day administration of aerodromes and of other ground services was mostly decentralised to divisional offices, each responsible for one of the areas into which the United Kingdom was divided. In 1947 the country was originally divided into four areas: London and South Eastern, South Western, including Wales and the Midlands, Northern including Northern Ireland and Scottish. These areas were reduced to three on the 1 July 1956: Southern (SO), Northern (NO), including Wales and Northern Ireland and Scottish (SCO). The Southern Division covers the whole of England from the Severn to the Wash.

Each Divisional Office comprised of a Divisional Controller and a small number of technical, executive and clerical staff. Their functions were to implement policy, to progress and co-ordinate development, to maintain the efficiency of technical services and within the limits of delegated authority, deal with those matters which did not require reference to headquarters.

The aerodromes serving London, Blackbushe, Stansted, Gatwick and London Heathrow, within Southern Division, were controlled and were administered by the General Manager (LONDON AIRPORTS) who was responsible for them direct to Ministry Headquarters.