Air traffic control facts for kids

Air traffic control (often called ATC) is a super important service that helps keep airplanes safe in the sky and on the ground. It's done by special people called air traffic controllers who work from the ground. Their main job is to make sure planes don't crash into each other. They also help organize all the planes flying around and give helpful information to pilots.

Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport

Air traffic controllers use special tools like radar to see where planes are. They talk to pilots using radios. To stop planes from getting too close, controllers make sure each plane has enough empty space around it. This is called "traffic separation."

In many places, ATC helps all kinds of planes, including private planes, military jets, and big passenger planes. Controllers give pilots "instructions" that they must follow. Sometimes, they give "advisories" or "flight information," which are like helpful tips that pilots can choose to follow or not.

Remember, the pilot flying the plane is always the boss when it comes to safety. If there's an emergency, the pilot can change what ATC told them to do to keep everyone safe.

Different Jobs in Air Traffic Control

Air traffic control isn't just one job; it's a team effort with different roles. Here are some of the main ones:

• Ground Control: These controllers are in charge of all planes and vehicles that are moving on the ground at the airport. This includes taxiways (the "roads" planes use), inactive runways, and parking areas.
• Clearance Delivery: This person gives pilots their flight plan "clearance." This is like getting permission for the route they want to fly. It's very important for a safe journey. They work closely with Ground Control and the Area Control Centre.
• Tower Control: These controllers give permission for planes to take off and land. They also direct planes that are flying very close to the airport, usually in a circle pattern.
• Approach Control: This job is for planes that are getting close to the airport or have just left. There are often many planes in this area, so it's a very busy and tricky job compared to other ATC services.
• Area Control Centre: These controllers keep planes separated when they are flying high up between different airports. They manage the airspace over a large area.

The Airport Control Tower

This control tower is the air traffic control facility for the world's busiest airport Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, United States

The main way controllers manage planes right at the airport is by watching them from the airport control tower. The tower is a tall building with lots of windows, usually located on the airport grounds. Controllers in the tower make sure planes and vehicles move safely on the taxiways and runways. They also guide planes flying close to the airport, usually within 5 to 10 nautical miles (9 to 18 km).

At bigger airports, controllers also use special screens to help them. These screens might show a map of the area, where planes are, and information like the plane's name, speed, and how high it's flying. If the weather is bad, tower controllers might use special radar systems to see planes and vehicles on the ground.

A U.S. Navy air traffic controller watches his radar scope where he works as an Aircraft Approach Controller

The jobs within the tower are usually split into three main parts:

• Local Control (or Air Control)
• Ground Control
• Flight Data / Clearance Delivery

At very busy airports, there might be other roles too, like Apron control. Sometimes, controllers don't even need to be at the airport! This is called a "remote and virtual tower." Controllers can be in a different place and still guide planes using live video or computer images.

Air Control (pilots call them "tower" or "tower control") is in charge of the runways where planes take off and land. They give permission for planes to use the runway, making sure there's always enough space between aircraft. If something looks unsafe, they might tell a plane that's about to land to "go-around." This means the plane flies around again and tries to land later.

Inside the tower, the Air Control and Ground Control teams must talk to each other very carefully. Air Control needs to tell Ground Control about anything happening on the runways that might affect taxiways. They also work with radar controllers to create "gaps" in arriving planes. This allows planes on the ground to cross runways or planes waiting to take off to get onto the runway. Ground Control, in turn, keeps Air Control updated on planes heading towards the runways. This helps everyone use the runways as efficiently as possible.

Images for kids

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  Air traffic control tower of Mumbai International Airport (India)

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  São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport's control tower

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  Control tower at Birmingham Airport, England

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  Small control tower at Räyskälä Airfield in Loppi, Finland

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  Inside Pope Field air traffic control tower

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  Potomac Consolidated TRACON in Warrenton, Virginia, United States

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  The training department at the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center, Leesburg, Virginia, United States

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  Unmanned radar on a remote mountain

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  Intersecting contrails of aircraft over London, an area of high air traffic

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  Airplane taking off from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with the ATC tower in the background

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  Electronic flight progress strip system at São Paulo Intl. control tower – ground control

See also

In Spanish: Control del tráfico aéreo para niños