Need of Air Traffic Control (ATC):
Accidents take place on roads as well as in air if proper system is not followed. Earlier there were no rules and regulations for private and commercial flights flying in the air since the number of flights was very less. Today, the number has tremendously increased which led in a need of a centralized system which could control air traffic flow for safe operations.
There are more than 50,000 flights flying every day across our skies; and in United States itself, more than 5,000 flights fly during peak hours. Air traffic control system interacts with pilot and provides him flying details to avoid clashes with other flights.
Air Traffic Control System:
Air Traffic Control System is a department based on ground which controls flights flying in the air. Air traffic controller communicates with the flight pilot and offers him proper path and information about weather, flying configuration and air traffic volume. Air traffic controller’s job is considered to be the most responsible job as he carries large responsibility on his shoulders. The controller has to control thousands of flights and decide take off and landing of the flights on the airport. He has to periodically guide pilots in bad weathers, maintain proper distance between other flights and calculate proper height and elevation of the flights in air.
The airspace in USA is governed by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), which is divided into 21 centers or zones, which are further subdivided into different sectors. The airspace between each zone is called as TRACON, which has an approximate diameter of 50 miles, containing number of airports which has its own ATC with an approximate radius of 5 miles. FAA has been designated around some important ATC divisions such as:
• ATCSCC (Air Traffic Control System Command Center): This center controls overseas air traffic and critical situations caused by out of order runways, traffic overloads or bad weather.
• TRACON (Terminal radar approach control): This center controls approaching and departing flights from its air space.
• ARTCC (Air route traffic control centers): This center controls traffic within all sectors excluding local airports and TRACON.
• ATCT (Air traffic control tower): It is located on every airport which controls landing, departure and ground traffic on airports.
• FSS (Flight service station): Provides route and weather information to private flights around rural areas and small airports.
ATC keeps a track of air traffic 24X7, which can be used as a national security or defense medium as in US. In some countries like Brazil, ATC is controlled by military department.
