Air Traffic Control OrganizationLesson # 3

ATC System Command Center 6:24

Overview

Basic ATC organization

Who is responsible for separation of air traffic?

Overview of ATC coordination

Description of each type of ATC facility

Special ATC procedures

Basic ATC Organization

Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC)

Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT)

Flight Service Stations (FSS)

Air Traffic Control System Command Center

(ATCSCC)

FAA

Air Traffic Services

ARTCC• 22 centers

ATCT• 352 towers

• 185 TRACONs

• 2 RAPCONs

FSS• 29 FSS

• 61 AFSS

ATCSCC• 1 command center

Air Traffic Facilities

Air Traffic System

Requirements

Airway Facilities

System Capacity

Operational Test &

Evaluation

Who is Responsible for Separation of Air Traffic in the

U.S.A?

Federal Aviation Administration

• By Act of Congress

Air route traffic control centers (ARTCC)

• The controllers in each Center are ultimately responsible for separation of all IFR traffic

ARTCCs Are Responsible for Separating Air Traffic in the

U.S.

ARTCCs can Delegate Separation Responsibilities to Local ATC

Facilities Letter of Agreement (LOA)

CENTER “A”

Space Assigned to ATC Facilities

TRACON

Tower

TRACON

Tower

TRACON

Tower

TRACON

Tower

TRACON

Tower

TRACON

Tower

CENTER “C”

CENTER “B”

Overview of ATC Coordination

“Pre-established” coordination: Letters of Agreement (LOA) and Facility Directives (FD)

• Delegation of separation

• Airspace boundaries

• Transfer of air traffic across boundaries

“On-the-fly” coordination between controllers

• Special pilot requests

• Weather deviations, etc.

Air Route Traffic Control Center(ARTCC)

Locations and boundaries

Responsibilities

Coordination

Controller positions

ARTCC Locations and Boundaries

Low Altitude ARTCC Sectors

ARTCC Responsibilities

Process IFR flight plans

Issue IFR clearances

Separate all IFR traffic in controlled airspace

Delegate IFR separation around busy airports

ARTCC Coordination

Facility directives and LOAs

Sectors

Handoff procedures

Preferential route system (preferred IFR routes)

Approval requests and coordination (APPREQ)

Fort Worth ARTCC Sectors

Handoff

Preferential Route System

Fig 5-8, p. 212

Airport

Facilities

Directory (A/FD)

ARTCC Controller Positions

Flight data

Radar

Radar associate (non-radar)

Flight data

1st job at center

Assist other controllers

Effect comm and passes info to other sectors

Radar

Issue altitude,heading, and airspeed changes to provide seperation

Radar associate (non-radar)

Assist radar controller with aircraft that do not show up on scope.

Air Traffic Control Towers

Responsibilities

Types of ATC towers

Controller positions

ATCT Responsibilities

Separate all traffic using runways for takeoff and landing

Relay IFR clearances

If delegated by ARTCC, separate IFR traffic within a given area around airport

• Within 40-mile radius of airport

• From surface to 5,000-17,000 feet

Types of ATC Towers

VFR control tower (e.g. PKB)• Most class D airports

• IFR approach and separation provided by another facility

Non-radar approach control tower• Few class D airports

• Non-radar IFR separation within delegated airspace

Radar approach control tower (e.g. CMH)• All class B & C airports

• Radar IFR separation within delegated airspace

ATCT Positions

Flight data

Clearance delivery

Ground control

Local control (tower)

Approach/departure• Tower cab

• TRACON facility next to tower

Location of ATC Facilities

AirportMiddle of nowhere

Radar room

TRACON

Tower

cab

• Flight data

• Clearance delivery

• Ground•

Local

ARTCC “Center”

• Approach

•Departure•

• Flight data• Radar• Associate

Control Tower

Flight Service Stations

Responsibilities

Specialist positions

FSS Responsibilities

Weather observations

Pilot weather briefings

Filing IFR/VFR flight plans

Disseminating NOTAMs

Broadcasting weather information

Relay ATC clearances

Emergency assistance

FSS Positions

Preflight briefing

In-flight

Flight watch (122.0) - EFAS

Flight data

NOTAM

Broadcast

Air Traffic Control System Command Center

Responsibilities

Offices

Herndon, Virginia

ATCSCC Responsibilities

Modify air traffic flow when weather or other conditions place stress on the NAS

Cooperate with airline personnel and other ATC facilities

ATCSCC does not directly control any air traffic

ATCSCC Offices

Airport reservation

Central altitude reservation

Flight inspection liaison

International operations and procedures

National operations control center

NOTAM

Severe weather unit

Special ATC Procedures

Coordination with DOD at air traffic control facilities

Military use of civilian airspace (MARSA)

Air defense identification zones (ADIZ)

Foreign ATC services

Non-federal control towers (NFCT)

traffic separation

Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT)

Summary of ATC Facilities

Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC)

“CENTER”

Flight Service Station (FSS)

Air Traffic Control System Command Center

(ATCSCC)

COMMAND CENTER

no separation

Control Tower

TOWER

Terminal Radar Control

TRACON

Topics for Remainder of Course

ARTCC “Center”

Radar room

TRACON

Tower cab

Control Tower

Chapter 6

Control tower procedures

Chapter 8

How radar works

Chapter 9

Radar separation procedures

Next

Chapter 6: Control Tower Procedures