Telegraph transit exchange using crossbar Pentaconta design

The Orly aeronautical telegraph transit exchange uses a semi-automatic continuous-tape system employing Pentaconta crossbar equipment. The operation of the exchange is explained with the aid of a trunking block diagram. Each incoming circuit has a printing-reperforator and retransmission la initiated by an operator. The automatic equipment then takes over and the outgoing message is routed, after numbering, directly to the outgoing radio or wire circuit, or to an overflow position if the relevant circuit happens to be busy, or to the multiple-address or supervisory junctors for special cases. The exchange has been in operation since June 1961 and peak traffic of 14000 messages per day occurred. The overflow positions handle 28 to 34% of the total outgoing traffic.