The task of ensuring safe operations of commercial and private aircraft falls on Air Traffic Controllers. They must coordinate the movements of thousands of aircraft, keep them at safe distances from each other, direct them during takeoff and landing from airports, direct them around bad weather and ensure that traffic flows smoothly with minimal delays. During peak air travel times in the United States, there are about 5,000 airplanes in the sky every hour. This translates to approximately 50,000 aircraft operating in our skies each day. The picture above is the Los Angles International Control Tower. The LAX tower was opened in 1996, reaching a height of 277 feet and allows 12 controllers to work.
The air traffic control system, which is run by the FAA or Federal Aviation Adminstration, 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.
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.There are many segments to a flight that most people do not think about.
- Preflight -This portion of the flight starts on the ground and includes flight checks, push-back from the gate and taxi to the runway.
- Takeoff - The pilot powers up the aircraft and speeds down the runway.
- Departure - The plane lifts off the ground and climbs to a cruising altitude.
- En route - The aircraft travels through one or more center airspaces and nears the destination airport.
- Descent - The pilot descends and maneuvers the aircraft to the destination airport.
- Approach - The pilot aligns the aircraft with the designated landing runway.
- Landing - The aircraft lands on the designated runway, taxis to the destination gate and parks at the terminal.
Say you were flying from Atlanta to San Francisco. You arrive at the airport, check in at the gate and board your aircraft. In this time your pilot is checking the weather, filing his/her flight plan and checking the latest notems for pilots. While you find your seat, the pilot is getting clearance from ground controllers on your spot for take off. When your aircraft finally pushes back from the gate and you are listening to the safety briefings, your pilot is getting directions on which taxiways to take to get to your runway for takeoff. Once your aircraft reaches the takeoff spot, your pilot is handed off from the ground controller to the tower controller. The tower controller then tells your pilot to taxi onto the runway and take off. Thus starting the first couple of segements of your flight. In just under 30 mins your pilot has talked to 2 controllers and you have not the clue because your journey has started seemlessly.
Part II will explore your flight (enroute) and your landing (distant/approach).
Check out the National Air Traffic Controllers Association Website
Listen to Air Traffic Controllers Live
Information courtesty of HowStuffWorks
you have given a lots of information regarding air traffic contro. i am very exicited of this type of job. i am 2nd year student of ENGINEERING & TELECOMMUNICATION & would like to work in this occupation.
Posted by: AMRUTA | January 4, 2007 4:36 AM | Permalink to Comment