 Defining ATC

 Extended Services
 History
 Operations linked with ATC
 Radar Coverage
 Problems
 Call signs
 Indian ATC Services
 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.
 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.
 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 1950 to monitor and
control the busy airspace around larger airports.
 Airport Control
 Ground Control
 Local Control / Air Control
 Approach and Terminal 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 18km) depending on the airport procedures.
 Controllers may use a radar system called
secondary surveillance RADAR for airborne traffic
approaching and departing.
 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.
 If local control detects an 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.
 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.
RADAR is a detection system that uses radio
waves to determine the range, angle, or velocity
of objects. It can be detect aircraft, ships,
spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles,
weather formations, and terrain.
 Long range radars are used and are capable
enough at higher altitudes, to see aircraft within
200 nautical miles (370km) 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.
Two major Problems:
 Traffic
 Weather
Traffic at Airport
 Arrivals of Flights
 Departures
 Hopping Aircrafts
 Layovers
 Availability of Aero Bridges
 Vacant runways
Weather Conditions
 Heavy rains
 Low visibility of runway
and aircraft
 Thunderstorms
 Turbulence
 Crosswinds at Airport
 Heavy snow fall
 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 AI952,
SG421, 6E879
 These also use NATO phonetic alphabet in roder 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.