Air Traffic Control Entities

        The United States airspace is divided into 21 zones (centers), and each zone is divided into sectors. Also within each zone are portions of airspace, about 50 miles (80.5 km) in diameter, called TRACON(Terminal Radar Approach CONtrol) airspaces. Within each TRACON airspace are a number of airports, each of which has its own airspace with a 5-mile (8-km) radius (Freudenrich, 2021).


The air traffic control system, which is run by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has been designed around these airspace divisions. The air traffic control system divisions are:

  • Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) - The ATCSCC oversees all air traffic control. It also manages air traffic control within centers where there are problems (bad weather, traffic overloads, inoperative runways).
  • Air route traffic control centers (ARTCC) - There is one ARTCC for each center. Each ARTCC manages traffic within all sectors of its center except for TRACON airspace and local-airport airspace.
  • Terminal radar approach control - TRACON handles departing and approaching aircraft within its space.
  • Air traffic control tower (ATCT) - An ATCT is located at every airport that has regularly scheduled flights. Towers handle all takeoff, landing, and ground traffic.
  • Flight service station (FSS) - The FSS provides information (weather, route, terrain, flight plan) for private pilots flying into and out of small airports and rural areas. It assists pilots in emergencies and coordinates search-and-rescue operations for missing or overdue aircraft.

          Without Air Traffic Control the skies would be chaos and aviation would likely be non-existent. According to the USCA (2015), The first aerodrome to provide an actual air traffic control service was Croydon, south of London. In 1922, after a minor collision between an arriving and a departing aircraft, the aerodrome published a NOTAM in which it was stated that all the pilots had to obtain a sequence number for departure, as well as authorization from the tower for taking off. This authorization was given waving a red flag from the observation tower. Croydon was also pioneer in establishing an aeronautical radio-navigation system and ground-air communications".

          To this day, ATC serves as the primary means of navigation to prevent collision and facilitate aircraft take-off, departure, and navigation. They do this by expediting the flow of traffic and relaying information to pilots about weather conditions and changes. For this discussion, the two entities within ATC that are imperative to the functionality of an airport are the Tower and ground. Although they both work in harmony towards a single goal, they serve different purposes. 

Air Traffic Controllers

  • They check flight plans, give pilots clearance for takeoff or landing, and direct the movement of aircraft and other traffic on the runways and in other parts of the airport.

  • Monitor and direct the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air
  • Control all ground traffic at airport runways and taxiways
  • Issue landing and takeoff instructions to pilots
  • Transfer control of departing flights to other traffic control centers and accept control of arriving flights
  • Inform pilots about weather, runway closures, and other critical information
  • Alert airport response staff in the event of an aircraft emergency


The Ground Controller 

  • is responsible for all ground traffic (taxiing from the gates to takeoff runways and from landing runways to the gates)
  • Determines that it is safe for pilot to push the aircraft back from the gate (airline personnel operate the tugs that actually push the aircraft back and direct the plane out of the gate area). 
  • Watches all of the airport's taxiways and uses ground radar to track all of the aircraft (especially useful in bad weather), 
  • Ensures that the aircraft does not cross an active runway or interfere with ground vehicles. 
  • Talks to the pilot by radio and gives him/her instructions, such as which way to taxi and which runway to go for takeoff. 
  • Once the aircraft reaches the designated takeoff runway, the ground controller passes the strip to the local controller.

Example: 

          The pilot might first contact clearance delivery. Clearance delivery will give the pilot her route, which she will write down. The pilot will then radio ground and ask for permission to taxi. The ground controller will give the pilot permission to taxi, including the specific route along the taxiways to use to get to the departure runway. On reaching the runway, the ground controller instructs the pilot to contact the tower controller. The tower controller will then clear the pilot to take off. The pilot enters the runway and takes off. The tower controller instructs the pilot to contact the departure controller. The departure controller gives the pilot instructions to control the route and altitude during departure. The departure controller then instructs the pilot to contact an enroute controller. As the plane moves along, the enroute controller instructs the pilot to contact a different enroute controller. That controller gives the pilot instructions to descend and approach the destination. The enroute controller instructs the pilot to contact the tower. The tower gives the pilot instructions to approach the runway and land. Since this is a very small airport, the tower and ground positions are handled by the same controller, and on the same frequency, so after the plane touches down, the same controller gives the pilot instructions to taxi to her destination.

References: 

Air Traffic Controllers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, October 22). BLS.Gov. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/air-traffic-controllers.htm#tab-2

Freudenrich, C., PhD. (2021, May 15). How Air Traffic Control Works. HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/air-traffic-control.htm

USCA. (2015, October 29). History of Air Traffic Control | USCA. USCA | Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos. https://www.usca.es/en/profession/history-of-air-traffic-control/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
          When researching about environmental issues that have presented the greatest concerns and impact on airports, I find it hard to describe only one. In my opinion, the primary environmental issues associated with the operation of airports are greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, noise pollution, land utilization, waste, and congestion. For this discussion I will only talk about the environmental issues of aircraft noises, what are some of the solutions available in addressing those environmental issues, and how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nation Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have dealt with these environmental issues.  The Main Concern:           The anticipated growth in air travel has heightened the significance and complexity of some environmental regulatory issues with noise being one of them. Noise, which can be defined as any unwanted sound,   can cause profound n...
Read more

Aircraft Systems and Flight

Image
           In aviation, an aircraft engine, or powerplant, is one of the most essential systems on the aircraft. There are two types of engines in aviation, a reciprocating engine and a gas turbine engine, which converts heat energy into mechanical energy by the flow of some fluid mass (air) through the engine (PHAK, 2016). This occurs from the undergo operation of the four major components that all engines share: an intake, a compression, a combustion (or power) and an exhaust. Gas turbine type engines also require an additional spool or turbine. Regardless of the type, the primary purpose of an aircraft engine is to generate enough thrust to propel the aircraft through the air by creating lift on the wings. The engine also generates power to other various systems that support the operations of the aircraft. This includes the electrical system, the hydraulic system (engine-powered only) and the bleed air system, which provides both air conditioning and pre...
Read more

Ethics and its Importance in the Aviation Community

Image
           If you were interested in building a house, the first step would include the construction process for the site preparation, the design, and the template for the foundation. The next step involves digging the footer and slab, leveling out the grounds, and then adding rebar to strengthen the concrete foundation. After the concrete is cured, the frame, roof, and walls are constructed. The result is a strong and durable home. This same process, of building a strong environment from a sturdy foundation, is necessary in building an ethical workplace. Similar to a house, people need a foundation to build their platform on when first developing their principles. Then they can build from that principle with a code of conduct or a moral compass for others to follow. This is extremely important in any business or work center to uphold ethical behavior among their employees. A strong ethical environment will encourage employees to show integrity, a concern f...
Read more