8.2 Blog Discussion: Air Traffic Control Entities

 Air Traffic Control Entities

    When it comes to Air Traffic Control (ATC) entities, the first thing that comes to my mind is the ATC tower. ATC goes so much further than just the tower. Radar air traffic control is the behind the curtain, unseen entity, and is comprised of two different agencies. Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), more commonly referred to as approach/departure and Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), more commonly referred to as center (Freudenrich, n.d.). Now lets go further in depth and see how each of these entities support air traffic management.

Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON)

    TRACON’s jurisdiction is air traffic that is departing and approaching airports within its airspace (Freudenrich, n.d.). Typically TRACON controls a 50-mile/80-km airspace radius From its location. This means one TRACON station could have several airports within its control (Freudenrich, n.d.). These stations use radar to monitor the aircraft and must maintain safe distances within the ascent or dissent corridors through the TRACON airspace (Freudenrich, n.d.). The dip Archer or approaching controller monitors your flight in and out of your designated airport. Approach controllers direct inbound aircraft from a higher altitude to lower altitudes merging but descending air traffic into a pattern that allows for a single file landing Q. Air traffic controllers pass air traffic from TRACON to ARTCC as aircraft pass through and transition into their airspace.

Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC)

    ARTCC handles all en route traffic as it passes through each center. ARTCC Manage is traffic within its perspective sectors center with the exception of TRACAN and local-airport air space (Freudenrich, n.d.). En route air traffic can pass through many ARTCC centers on its travel to its destination airport. Much in the same way TRACON uses radar to track aircrafts position, altitude, and airspeed so does ARTCC with enroute air traffic (Freudenrich, n.d.). ARTCC is comprised of two air traffic controllers the radar associate controller and the radar hand-off controller. The radar controller receives the flight plan information and plots it within the sector deconflicting altitudes and headings with other air traffic. The radar controller overseas the entire sector's operations and monitors the airspace for safe separation within all aspects of air traffic within their sector (Freudenrich, n.d.). The radar handoff controller assist the radar controller during periods of heavy air traffic. During these hectic times this makes for a positive control in exchange of air traffic.

Conclusion

    As you can see there are some similarities between TRACAN and ARTCC as they both use radar to monitor air traffic. They both monitor flights to maintain safe flight distances among their course. There are some significant differences with these two entities as well. The TRACON airspace span of control is much smaller and tends to have a smaller amount of traffic then ARTCC (PHAK, 2016). TRACON Air traffic control tends to be more technical and require heightened sense of awareness whereas ARTCC is a larger air space with a larger volume of traffic requiring deconfliction along their route to and from airports (PHAK, 2016). Although their goals are similar, how they accomplish air traffic control is different, and working together ensures the end goal of a safe flight is achieved.

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References:

Federal Aviation Administration. “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK),” 2016. Retrieved https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/ aviation/phak/.

Freudenrich, C.  (n.d.).  How Air Traffic Control Works.  Retrieved from                     https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/air-traffic-control.htm