AIR TRAFFIC ONTROL

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-

based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air.

The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is:

 to separate aircraft to prevent collisions
 to organize and expedite the flow of traffic
 to provide information and other support for pilots when able.

Air traffic controllers are the people who operate the air traffic
control systems to expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow
of air traffic and help prevent mid-air collisions.
 Preflight -This portion of the flight starts on the ground and
includes flight checks, push-back from the gate and taxi to the
runway.
 Takeoff - The pilot powers up the aircraft and speeds down
the runway.
 Departure - The plane lifts off the ground and climbs to a
cruising altitude.
 En route - The aircraft travels through one or more center
airspaces and nears the destination airport.
 Descent - The pilot descends and maneuvers the aircraft to the
destination airport.
 Approach - The pilot aligns the aircraft with the designated
landing runway.
 Landing - The aircraft lands on the designated runway, taxis
to the destination gate and parks at the terminal.
The objectives of the air traffic services shall be to:
a) prevent collisions between aircraft.

b) prevent collisions between aircraft on the maneuvering area and

obstructions on that area.

c) expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic.

d) provide advice and information useful for the safe and efficient
conduct of flights.

e) notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of

search and rescue aid, and assist such organizations as required.
 The air traffic services comprise of three services identified as
follows:

1. Air traffic control service

 Area control service
 Approach control service
 Aerodrome control service
2. Flight information service
3. Alerting service
• Air traffic control service
Area Control Service:
The provision of air traffic control service for controlled flights,
except for those parts of such flights which are under the jurisdiction of
Approach Control or Aerodrome Control to accomplish following
objectives:
a) prevent collisions between aircraft
b) expedite and maintain an orderly flow of air traffic

Approach control service:

The provision of air traffic control service for those parts of
controlled
flights associated with arrival or departure.

Aerodrome control service:

The provision of air traffic control service for
aerodrome traffic, except for those parts of flights which are under the
jurisdiction Approach Control.
 Flight information service:
Provide advice and information useful for the safe and efficient
conduct of flights.

 Alerting service:
Notify appropriate organizations regarding aircraft in need of
search and rescue aid and assist such organizations as required.
 Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of regulations which allow
a pilot to operate an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear
enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.
 Specifically, the weather must be better than Basic VFR Weather
Minimums, as specified in the rules of the relevant aviation authority.
 If the weather is worse than VFR minimums, pilots are required to
use Instrument Flight Rules.
 Meteorological conditions that meet the minimum requirements for
VFR flight are termed visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
 If they are not met, the conditions are considered instrument
meteorological conditions(IMC), and a flight may only operate under
IFR.
 VFR rules require a pilot to be able to see outside the cockpit, to
control the aircraft's attitude, navigate, and avoid obstacles and other
aircraft.
 A VFR flight is "conducted in accordance with the visual flight rules
 An aircraft operated in accordance with the visual flight rules which
wishes to change to compliance with the instrument flight rules shall-
 Communicate the necessary changes to be effected to its current flight plan or
 Submit a flight plan to the appropriate air traffic services unit and obtain a clearance
prior to proceeding IFR when in controlled airspace.
 Except when a clearance is obtained from an air traffic control unit,
VFR flights shall not take-off or land at an aerodrome within a control
zone or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or traffic pattern:
 When the ceiling is less than 450M(1550 Ft) or
 When the ground visibility is less than 5KM.
 VFR flights shall not be operated between sunset and sunrise, except
when exempted by air traffic control for local flights and such training
flights of flying club aircraft as may be cleared by air traffic control.
 VFR flights can not be operated-
 Above FL50
 At transonic and supersonic speeds
 More than 100 NM seaward from the shoreline within controlled airspace.
 Expect when necessary for take-off or landing or except by permission
from appropriate authority, a VFR flight shall not be flown-
 Over congested area of city, town or settlements or over an open-air assembly of
persons at a height less than 300M above the highest obstacle within a radius of
600M from the aircraft.
 Instrument flight rules (IFR) are regulations and procedures for
flying aircraft by referring only to the aircraft instrument panel for
navigation.
 Even if nothing can be seen outside the cockpit windows, an IFR-rated
pilot can fly while looking only at the instrument panel.
 An IFR-rated pilot can also be authorized to fly through clouds,
using Air Traffic Control procedures designed to maintain separation
from other aircraft.
 Training is normally done in simulated IFR conditions with training aids
such as block alls to help a pilot concentrate only on the instrument
panel.
 Most scheduled airline flights operate under IFR.
 Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are often used for sight-seeing flights, aerial
photography, or lift services for parachute jumping.
 Pilots flying under VFR are not permitted to fly through clouds. Many
non-commercial, private recreational aircraft also operate under VFR
whenever the sky is clear.
 Under VFR, the pilot is primarily responsible for navigation, obstacle
clearance and maintaining separation from other aircraft using the see-
and-avoid concept.
 All aircraft shall be equipped with suitable instruments and
navigation equipment appropriate to the route to be flown.
 Except when necessary for take-off or landing or when specifically
authorized by the appropriate authority, an IFR slight shall be flown
at a level that is not below the established minimum flight altitude or
where no such minimum flight altitude had been established-
 Over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least
600M above the highest obstacle located within 8KM of the estimated
position of the aircraft.
 Elsewhere at a level at least 300M above.
 An aircraft electing to change the conduct of flight from IFR to VFR
shall notify the app. Air traffic services unit specifically that the IFR
flight is cancelled and communicate the changes to be made to its
current flight plan.
 When an a/c operating under IFR is flown in or encounters visual
meteorological conditions, it shall not cancel its IFR flight rules
unless it is anticipated and intended that the flight will be continued
for a reasonable period of time in interrupted visual meteorological
conditions
 Based on ATC usage:
 Controlled Airspace:
 ATC services are provided throughout the majority of
airspace, and its services are available to all users (private,
military, and commercial).
 When controllers are responsible for separating some or all
aircraft, such airspace is called "controlled airspace“.
 Uncontrolled Airspace:
 In contrast to "uncontrolled airspace“ is the airspace, where
aircraft may fly without the use of the air traffic control
system.
Class D:
 IFR and VFR flights are permitted and all flights are provided with air
traffic Control service, IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights
and receive traffic information in respect of VFR flights.
 VFR flights receive traffic information in respect of all other flights.
 Airspaces in terminal areas, control areas, control zones and aerodrome
traffic zones have been classified and designated as class D airspace.

Class E:
 IFR and VFR flights are permitted, IFR flights are provided with air
traffic control service and are separated from other IFR flights.
 IFR flights receive traffic information in respect of VFR flights, VFR
flights receive traffic information in respect of all other flights, as far as
is practical.
 Class E is not be used for control zones.
 Airspaces in designated ATS routes outside terminal areas, control areas
and control zones, where air traffic control service is provided, have
been classified and designated as class E airspace.
Class F:
 IFR and VFR flights are permitted. All IFR flights receive an air
traffic advisory service and all flights receive flight information
service, if requested.
 Airspaces in designated ATS route segments outside terminal
areas, control areas and control zones, where air traffic advisory
service is provided, have been classified and designated as class F
airspace.

Class G:
 IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive flight information
service if requested.
 Airspaces other than those in Class D, E and F have been classified
and designated as class G airspace.
Air traffic control service shall be provided:
a) to all IFR flights in airspace Classes D and E
b) to all VFR flights in airspace Classes D
c) to all special VFR flights
d) to all aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes.