Air Traffic Control Entities

 

          Most of us are all pilots here, we understand that without Air Traffic Control the skies would be chaos and aviation would likely be non-existent. According to the USCA, "The first aerodrome to provide an actual air traffic control service was Croydon, south of London. In 1922, after a minor collision between an arriving and a departing aircraft, the aerodrome published a NOTAM in which it was stated that all the pilots had to obtain a sequence number for departure, as well as authorization from the tower for taking off. This authorization was given waving a red flag from the observation tower. Croydon was also pioneer in establishing an aeronautical radio-navigation system and ground-air communications". 

          To this day, ATC serves as the primary means of navigation to prevent collision and facilitate aircraft take-off, departure, and navigation. They do this by expediting the flow of traffic and relaying information to pilots about weather conditions and changes. But today I want to talk about two entities within ATC that are imperative to the functionality of an airport. Tower and ground. 

          Although they both work in harmony towards a single goal, they serve different purposes. Ground Issues by radio or directional light signals specific instructions which approve or disapprove the movement of aircraft, vehicles, equipment, or personnel on the movement area except where permitted in an LOA (FAA, 3-7-1.). Tower however, is responsible for relaying takeoff and landing clearance as well as all in-air operations. 

      ATC Ground screen                                                 ATC Tower navigation screen 

   
  
              


          One of the first things they teach you in PPL training, is how to radio communicate. Often times, ATC is singlehandedly responsible for accident prevention in-air and on the ground. Both entities serve the aircraft's safety as well as souls on-board despite having different tasks. Eventually it just becomes second nature to bounce back in forth between ground support and tower (although admittedly I've asked ground for takeoff clearance before and tower for taxi instructions). 



References:


https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap3_section_1.html

https://www.usca.es/en/profession/history-of-air-traffic-control/




  

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