ATC – Air Traffic Control

By :
N.PREETHAM
17C51A0538
 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 Turbulence
Aero Bridges Crosswinds at
Vacant Runways Airport
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)
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