From wikipedia: “The International Telecommunication Union wanted Coordinated Universal Time to have a single abbreviation for all languages. English speakers and French speakers each wanted the initials of their respective languages’ terms to be used internationally: “CUT” for “co-ordinated universal time” and “TUC” for “temps universel coordonné”. This resulted in the final compromise of using UTC. ”
Practically, it’s what used to be called “GMT” (Greenwich Mean Time).
No it wasn’t the Vulcans, I believe it was the Mongoloids.
Putting aside the “who invented it” question, UTC is very important because:
* UTC is the time system used in aviation. Weather reports, flight plans, air traffic control clearances and maps.
* UTC is designed to synchronize the clocks of many computers over the internet.
* UTC is used for meetings on the internet.
* UTC is used in international broadcasts, free-to-air satellite television and shortwave radio.
But we Brits invented GMT. Not the French. Why should we compromise a standard to meet some French-speaking aviation requirement?
We are being oppressed I tell ya! Oppressed we are!
