8.2 Air Traffic Control Entities

 

8.2 Air Traffic Control Entities

            Air traffic control is divided amongst different sectors. Each piece of the puzzle plays an important role in managing air travel and its safety. The two entities I want to focus on are the terminal radar approach control (TRACON) and air traffic control tower (ATCT). TRACON supports air traffic management by handling departing and approaching aircraft within its space. “TRACONs are FAA facilities that house air traffic controllers who use radar displays and radios to guide aircraft approaching and departing airports generally within a 30- to 50-mile radius up to 10,000 feet, as well as aircraft that may be flying over that airspace (Radar Approach, 2019).” A TRACON is different from an ATCT first because there can be multiple ATCT’s within a TRACON’s radius so they operate on a further scale. Secondly though an ATCT is handling departing and approaching, they do not handle takeoff and landing specifically like an ATCT does.

            ATCT’s are located at every airport that has regularly schedules flights, with the goal of handling all takeoff, landing, and ground traffic. Though these two do have differences, they also have similarities. A similarity I’d like to highlight is that they both ensure the safety of an aircraft while in the approach and departure phase of flight. When an aircraft is approaching for landing, they will be under control of the TRACON until they hand them over to the ATCT, once this is initiated the tower will be in control of the landing phase. The same is done when taking off, the roles are just switched. Through clear communication different air traffic control systems work in conjugation to ensure the safety of flight.

REFERENCE

NATIONAL REALIGNMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITIES. (2019, April 29). AOPA. https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/advocacy-briefs/air-traffic-services-brief-realignment-of-terminal-radar-approach-control-facilities

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