School Of Aeronautics (Neemrana)
Seminar
Air Traffic Control
Presented by : Guided by :
Priyanshu Sharma (1959) Mr. Gourav Sardana
Semester 6 (Assistant professor)
Contents
• Defining ATC
• Extended Services
• History
• Operations linked with ATC
• Problems
• Call signs
• Conclusion
• Reference Links And Research Paper
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 provided Services to aircraft in non-
controlled Air Space.
• To prevent collisions ATC enforces Traffic Separation Rules, which
Ensure each aircraft Maintains 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 Airspace.
• 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 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 air craft 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
• 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
Fig. 1: Runway Fig. 2: 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 intersections where aircraft arrive, having vacated
the runway or departure gate.
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
true altitude when they are handed off, and that aircraft arrive at a
suitable rate for landing.
Air Space Regions
Fig. 3: Flight Information Region (FIR) Fig. 4: Map
Problems Faced by ATC
Two Major Problems:
• Traffic
• Weather
Fig. 5: Weather
Fig. 6: Traffic
Traffic at Airport Weather Conditions
• Arrivals of Flights • Heavy Rains
• Departures • Low visibility of Runway and
• Hopping Aircrafts aircraft
• Thunderstorms
• Layovers
• Turbulence
• Vacant Runways • Crosswinds at Airport
• Heavy Snow Fall
Waiting for Clearance
Fig. 7: Flights waiting on taxi way Fig. 8: Take off of flight
Early Morning Traffic View
Fig. 9: Early morning traffic
Bad weather conditions
Fig. 10: Bad Weather Fig. 11: Harsh
Rain
Heavy snow fall
Fig. 12: Snow on runway Fig. 13: Snow on aircraft
Cross winds affecting take off
and landing
Fig. 14 (a): crosswinds affecting take-off Fig. 15 (b): crosswinds affecting take-off
Call Signs
• In order to ensure safe Air Traffic separation Call signs are Used by
Air Traffic Controllers.
• These are permanently allocated by ICAO (International Civil
Aviation Organization) on request usually to Scheduled Flights and
some air forces for Military Flights.
• They are written Call signs with 3-letter combination like ATV, IP, AC
followed by the flight number, like Al 952, SG 421, 6E 879
How ATC and Aircraft Communicate
To Each Other
Table 1 : Situation that a passenger has fallen sick 25NM from AAE
Aircraft (Tx) ATC (Rx)
PAN PAN X 3 6E-968, AAE ACC, PAN PAN acknowledged
AAE ACC 6E-968 on 123.9 Descend FL100
airbus heavy expect vectors for ILS Runway 04 at Annaba
Advise if medical assistance is required on
Passenger fallen sick
arrival
Position 25 NM from AAE 1920 FL 310
contact AAE Approach on 119.7 when ready
W20
Request landing at AAE Traffic is light, cleared direct AAE
Table 2: Situation that engine no.1 is on fire. ATC is 12 NM from AAE
Aircraft (Tx) ATC (Rx)
MAY DAY (x3) roger MAYDAY
UUD TWR 6E-986 on 122.3 Engine no.1 on fire 6E-986, UUD Tower
Will commence emergency landing at UUD
Position 12NM from AAE 2920 FL 133 W13
Fire services alerted and standing by
POB 150 HDG 170 FOB 1ton Request fire
fighting services after/on landing
Runway [assigned runway] in use, wind
(POB) – Passenger on board
[current wind], cleared to land
(HDG)- Head of the aircraft Report established on final
Number of souls on board confirmed 150,
(FOB)- Fuel on board
fuel remaining 1 ton
Call when ready for further instructions
Conclusion
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a critical
component of aviation safety and efficiency.
Its primary role is to manage and coordinate
aircraft movements both on the ground and
in the air to prevent collisions and ensure
smooth operations. Through the use of
advanced communication, radar, and
navigation systems, ATC facilitates safe
departures, and route navigation, and
landings for thousands of flights daily.
Reference Links And Research Paper
• https://www.amsterdamuas.com/binaries/content/assets/subsites/aviati
on/inair/2015/proceedings/radisic-novak-juricic---development-and-
validation-of-an-atc-research-simulator_footer.pdf?1454913810119
• https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3592705
• https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.04054
