ATC – Air Traffic Control

By :
K.SASIDHAR
 Contents
 Defining ATC
 Extended Services
 History
 Operations linked with ATC
 Radar Coverage
 Problems
 Call signs
 Indian ATC Services
 What is Air Traffic Control..?
 Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground
based Controllers who direct the Aircraft on the ground
and through controlled Air Space and can provide
advisory Services to aircraft in non-controlled Air Space.

 To prevent collisions ATC enforces Traffic Separation

Rules, which Ensure each aircraft Maintains a Minimum
amount of Empty space around it all times.
 Extended Services
 In many Countries, ATC provides services to all private ,
military and commercial aircraft operating within it’s Air
space.

 Many Aircrafts also have Collision avoidance systems ,

which provide additional safety by warning pilots when
other aircrafts gets close.

 The Pilot in Command is the final Authority for the Safe

operation of Aircraft and in an emergency he may Deviate
from ATC instructions to maintain Safe operation of
Aircraft.
 History
 In 1921, Croydon Airport, London was the first airport
in the world to introduce Air Traffic Control.

 The first ATC tower regulating all activities of aircraft

at a specific airport , opened in Cleveland in 1930

 Approach/departure control facilities were created

after adoption of RADAR in the 1950s to monitor and
control the busy airspace around larger airports.
 Operations Linked with ATC
Airport Control

Ground Control

Local Control / Air Control

Approach and Terminal Control

Airport Control
 Air Traffic Controllers are responsible for the separation
and efficient movement of aircraft , and also vehicles
operating on the taxiways and runways of the airport itself,
and aircraft in the air near the airport, generally 5 to
10 nautical miles (9 to 18 km) depending on the airport
procedures.

 Controllers may use a radar system called Secondary

surveillance RADAR for airborne traffic approaching and
departing.
Run Way Taxi Way
Ground Control
 Ground control (sometimes known as ground
movement control) is responsible for the airport
"movement" areas, as well as areas not released to the
airlines or other users.

 This generally includes all taxiways, inactive runways,

Holding Areas, and some transitional aprons or
intersections where aircraft arrive, having vacated the
runway or departure gate.
Holding Areas
Local control / Air control..

 If local control detects any unsafe condition, a landing

aircraft may be told to “Go-Around" and be re-sequenced
into the landing pattern by the approach or terminal area
controller.

 Ground control must request and gain approval from local

control to cross any active runway with any aircraft or
vehicle.
Approach & Terminal Control
 Terminal controllers are responsible for providing all
ATC services within their airspace

 Traffic flow is broadly divided into departures, arrivals,

and Over -flights

 Terminal control is responsible for ensuring that

aircraft are at an appropriate altitude when they are
handed off, and that aircraft arrive at a suitable rate for
landing.
Air Space Regions
 RADAR coverage
 Long Range Radars are used and are Capable Enough at
higher altitudes, to see aircraft within 200 nautical miles
(370 km) of the radar antenna.

 A Radar Archive System (RAS) keeps an electronic record

of all radar information, preserving it for a few weeks.

 When an aircraft has 'disappeared' from radar screens, a

controller can review the last radar returns from the aircraft
to determine its likely position.
Airport view from ATC
 Problems Faced by ATC
 Two Major Problems :

 Traffic

Weather
 Aircraft Traffic & Weather
Traffic at Airport Weather Conditions
 Arrivals of Flights  Heavy Rains
 Departures  Low visibility of
 Hopping Aircrafts Runway and aircraft
 Layovers  Thunderstorms
 Availability of Aero  Turbulence
Bridges  Crosswinds at Airport
 Vacant Runways  Heavy Snow Fall
Waiting For Clearance :
Early Morning Traffic at Chatrapati Shivaji
International Airport , Mumbai
Mumbai Airport
 Bad weather Conditions
Landing in Heavy Rain Low Visibility of Light
Heavy Snow Fall
Cross Winds affecting Take off and landing
 Call Signs
 In order to ensure safe Air Traffic separation Call signs
are Used by Air Traffic Controllers

 These are permanently allocated by ICAO on request

usually to Scheduled Flights and some air forces for
Military Flights.

 They are written Call signs with 3-letter combination

like KLM, LH, SG followed by the flight number, like
AI 952 , SG 421 , 6E 879
 These also use NATO Phonetic Alphabet in order to
avoid the Confusion with Letters and Flight Numbers
(i.e., ABC spoken Alpha-Bravo-Charlie ) Ex : for
C-GABC or the last 3 numbers like 345 spoken as
TREE-FORE-FIFE for N12345

 For Example DLH23LG, spoken as Lufthansa -two-

three-lima-golf.
 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs)
& Air Traffic Service Providers ( ATSPs )
 INDIA – Airports Authority of India (AAI) (under
Ministry of Civil Aviation

 Malaysia – Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA)

 Singapore – Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)

 United Arab Emirates – General Civil Aviation Authority

(GCAA)

 United States– Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

ATC India Awards
 At the ATC Global Awards 2013, the Airports
Authority of India received 2 awards

For Excellence in ANSP Management (outside

Europe and North America)

Strategic Advancement in Air Transport through

AAI’s collaborative environment project.
 AAI’s significant lead resulted in carbon savings to
the tune of 6,885 tons till February 28, 2013
leading to the much-needed environmental
protection has attracted world-wide acclaim.

 Airports Authority of India Won "3rd Asia's Best CSR

Practice Award", 2013 for Developing Sustainable
Strategies