Air Traffic

Control

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Air Traffic Control

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), defines the

objectives of air traffic control as:
 Preventing collisions between aircraft in flight.
 Preventing collisions between aircraft on the maneuvering area
of an airport and obstructions on that area.
 Expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic.
 Providing advice and information useful for the safe and efficient
conduct of flights.
 Notifying appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of
search and rescue, and assisting such organizations as required.

Aviation English BBC

 Air Traffic Control

 Air traffic control involves monitoring the movements of all

aircraft :
 in the air and on the ground,
 in the vicinity of an airport.
 Its main purpose is to keep aircraft safely separated to prevent
accidents.
 Air traffic control is needed so that the risk of collision becomes
extremely low and this can be achieved only by strictly following
procedures that are set out and monitored by air traffic
controllers.

Aviation English BBC

Air Traffic Control

 Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service provided by ground based

Controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air to ensure
safe, orderly and efficient traffic flow.
 ATC services are provided throughout the majority of airspace, and its
services are provided for all users (private pilot, military, and
commercial).
 Such airspace is called "controlled airspace" in contrast to
"uncontrolled airspace".
 By law, pilots must obey the directions of air traffic controllers when
they are in controlled airspace.

Aviation English BBC

Air Traffic Control

 Air traffic control services can be divided into two major

subspecialties, terminal control and en-route control.
 Terminal control includes the control of traffic (aircraft and
vehicles) on the airport proper and airborne aircraft within
the immediate airport environment.
 Terminal controllers work in facilities called control towers
and Approach Control.
 En-route controllers control the traffic between the
terminals.
 They can also control traffic in and out of airports where the
traffic volume does not warrant the establishment of a
terminal ATC operation.
Aviation English BBC
Terminal Control

 The primary method of controlling the immediate airport

environment is visual observation from the control tower.
 The tower is a tall, windowed structure located on the airport
grounds.
 Tower controllers are responsible for the separation and efficient
movement of aircraft and vehicles operating on the taxiways and
runways of the airport itself, and aircraft in the air near the airport,
generally 2 to 5 nautical miles (4 to 9 km) depending on the airport
procedures.
 Radar displays are also available to controllers at some airports.

Aviation English BBC

Terminal Control

 The areas of responsibility for tower controllers fall into three

general operational disciplines;
 Ground Control
 Local Control
 Clearance Delivery.

Aviation English BBC

 Air Traffic Control

 In flight, an aircraft follows en route air traffic control instructions as

it flies through successive flight information regions.
 When it approaches an airport for landing, the aircraft enters the
terminal control area where it is monitored by controllers using radar.
 Controllers also monitor the aircraft all the way to the ground and tell
the pilot how to maneuver on the ground to avoid collisions on the
ground of the airfield and how to reach its final location where
passengers can disembark.
 Departing aircraft go through a reverse procedure.
 Overall, the degree of control depends greatly on the weather
conditions.
Aviation English BBC
Air Traffic Services

1- Air Traffic Control Service

 Prevent collisions between aircraft in the air.
 Prevent collision between aircraft on the maneuvering area.
 Expedite and maintain safe and orderly flow of traffic.
2- Flight Information Service
This service is meant to give any information pertinent to safety
useful for a safe conduct of flight.
3- Alerting Service
This service must warn all competent services as soon as an
aircraft is or seems to be in danger.
4- Advisory Service
The task of this service is to give advice to the pilots.

Aviation English BBC

 Air Traffic Units

1. Area Control Center: (ACC)

Enroute aircraft operating under IFR between airport terminal areas.
2. Approach control (APP)
Aircraft flying IFR departing from the field circuit, or approaching to
land.
3. The Control Tower : (TWR)
Directs the movements of aircraft on and in the vicinity of an airport.
4. The Flight Information Center (FIC)
It provides information and alerting services to uncontrolled flights.
5. Aerodrome Radio Communication Service:
A radio service which is always broadcasting information concerning
runway in use, altimeter settings, visibility, wind direction and
velocity, condition of runways, taxiways and other facilities.
Aviation English BBC
FLIGHT
PROFILE

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Flight Profile

 Every aircraft that flies follows a similar flight pattern that begins
before takeoff and ends after landing.
 This pattern is called a flight profile.
 A typical commercial flight profile has seven phases.
 Each phase of a typical flight profile is monitored by an air traffic
control facility with its own group of controllers.
 Each of these controllers follows specific rules and procedures while
directing flights through designated airways.
 They monitor the flight using special equipment and decision
support tools that ensure a safe and efficient flight.
Flight Profile

Aviation English BBC

Flight Profile

Preflight
 The pilot receives the most recent weather information and a
flight plan has been filed.
 Prior to take off, the pilot performs the flight check routine,
pushes back the aircraft from the terminal's gate, and taxis out
to the designated take off runway.

Take off
 The pilot receives permission from Local Control (the Tower) to
take off.
 The aircraft powers up and begins its take off roll.
Flight Profile

Departure
 Upon lift off, the pilot is instructed to change radio frequencies to
receive new flight instructions from Approach Control.
 The pilot is instructed to follow a pre-determined, preferred
routing (routeing) that will take the aircraft up and away from the
departure airport onto its route.
 The pilot is then issued further altitude and routing clearance.
The controller monitors the target (the aircraft) and its track
(flight path) on the radar scope.
 As the aircraft reaches the edge of the control area, the
Approach Controller performs an electronic transfer of the flight
to the controller in the next airspace.
Aviation English BBC
Flight Profile

En Route
 The pilot receives instructions as to what altitude and heading to
maintain, as well as to which radio frequency to tune.
 This portion of the flight can be as short as a few minutes or as long
as many hours.
Descent
 As the aircraft nears its destination airport, the pilot is instructed to
change radio frequencies and contact Approach Control for
instructions.
 The pilot is instructed to descend and change heading.
 After receiving these instructions, the aircraft descends and
maneuvers to the destination airport.

Aviation English BBC

 Flight Profile

Approach
 The pilot has received an approach clearance to the destination
airport from the Approach Controller.
 The flight has been placed in line with other aircraft preparing
to land at the same airport.
 The pilot flies a specified flight procedure in order to get in line
for the designated landing runway.
 The pilot receives instructions from the Approach Controller to
change radio frequency and contact Local Control (in the
airport's control tower) for landing clearance.

Aviation English BBC

Flight Profile

Landing
 The pilot receives clearance from the Local Controller to land
on a designated runway.
 Upon touching down, the flight is then handed off to Ground
Control.
 The Ground Controller directs the pilot across the taxiways to
its destination gate (stand) at the terminal.

Aviation English BBC

Traffic Circuit / Traffic pattern

Downwind leg

Crosswind leg
Base leg
Direction of landing

Straight in Final
Approach Runway
Approach Departure

Upwind leg

Aviation English BBC

Holding pattern

Holding side
Abeam
Outbound leg

Outbound end
Fix end

Inbound leg
Holding fix or Inbound course
Clearance limit

Non-Holding side

Aviation English BBC

 Aviation English 21
Aviation English BBC