Air Traffic Control Entities

Roles & Responsibility

The main objective of the air traffic controller (ATC) is to direct air traffic within the area of control so as to avoid any collisions between any aircraft operating within the same area (FAA, n.d., p15-7). This is done so as to prevent any mishaps from occurring which could endanger the lives of the people on board the aircraft especially when visibility is low. Besides that, the ATC is also required to provide secondary service or assistance to any aircraft operating within the area of control such as during emergencies unless they are limited by certain factors which deem the service or assistance unable to be rendered (FAA, n.d., p15-7).

Local Airport Control Tower Functions 

According to OAJ (2020), a local airport control tower provides pilot with instructions and advisories on potential hazards within the area, issue clearance and instructions for take off and landings, accpeting and transferring of any incoming and outgoing flights respectively, and lastly monitor any aircraft movements on ground and in air, all within a radius of 5miles of the airport. In short, a local ATC is like a home station that authorize movements around and within the airport's vicinity usually within the view of the tower. It also provides any warnings or advisories that requires immediate attentions to aircraft operators within the area so as to avoid any potential incidents.

Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Operations

Basically, ARTCC's jobs is to provide air route assignments which involves heading and height for aircrafts travelling en route from one destination to another (Max Aero, 2014). Unlike local air control towers, ARTCC can operate remotely and is in charge of a larger area that is divided into sectors in which direct communication can be established at specific radio frequencies. Its functions includes managing air traffic movement within the designated centre's controlled airspace and also provide weather advisory as required (Max Aero, 2014). The key difference between a local airport control tower and the ARTCC is that the aforementioned mostly handle any aircraft operating within the airport area, while the latter handles all aircraft movement within its established controlled airspace.


References

FAA. (n.d.). Chapter 15 - Airspace. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/17_phak_ch15.pdf

Max Aero. (2014a). ARTCC [Photograph]. Max Aero. https://maxaerodemo.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/artcccenter.jpg

Max Aero. (2014b). Air traffic management. https://max.aero/flight-training/private-pilot-training-program/learning-center/air-traffic-management/

OAJ. (2020). Importance of Air Traffic Control Towers | OAJ Airport | Jacksonville NC. Fly OAJ. https://flyoaj.com/importance-of-air-traffic-control-towers/

TODAY. (2016). Changi airport control tower [Photograph]. TODAY Online. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/changi-airport-planning-second-air-traffic-control-tower

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