The very first Air Traffic Control station was created in late 1935. The Controllers used maps and blackboards to keep track of aircraft positions. There was also no radio communication, so the controllers used telephone communication to stay in touch with airline dispatcher, airway radio operators, and other Air traffic Controllers. Then by 1950, moving from the blackboards and paper sheets, the radar was introduced that allowed controllers to view scopes of aircraft positions (FAA, n.d).
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is an incredibly responsible and crucial organization when it comes to aviation. Air traffic controllers are trained specialist in guiding aircraft pilots threw the air and along the taxi ways to prevent aircraft collisions (Sofia Tokar Jul 18 et al.). The Air Traffic Control operation is not maintained solely by one individual, it can be split into different specialties. The two specialty areas that we are going to discuss are Tower and Ground. Although they both control and manage aircraft movements, there are many differences as far as their location of jurisdiction. Tower is responsible for all active runway traffic, such as, takeoffs and landings. Ground is responsible for movement along the taxiways, aprons, inactive runways and holding areas (White, 2020). Safety of aircrew and personnel is the most important concern for ATC and they manage this through very clear and concise communication with all vehicles operating within the airfield. According to AOPA, you tell the controller who you are, where you are, and what you want to do. For example, "Anytown ground, Trainer zero-zero-zero-zero-Yankee at the east ramp, taxi for takeoff with [ATIS] information Golf, west departure." The ground controller will respond with your taxi clearance, which you read back: "Trainer zero-zero-zero-zero-Yankee, taxi to Runway three-three." Then the controller is done, the person operating on the airfield must read back the clearance information to ensure that the message was clear when delivered (AOPA, 1999).
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References
Air Traffic Control. Air Traffic Control | Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.faa.gov/about/history/photo_album/air_traffic_control
ATC Communications. AOPA. (1999, January 5). Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/1999/january/flight-training-magazine/atc-communications
Sofia Tokar Jul 18, 2018, Aug 11, 2022 S. T. E. M., Aug 10, 2022 S. T. E. M., & Aug 5, 2022 S. T. E. M. (n.d.). What is Air Traffic Control? Southern New Hampshire University. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/stem/what-is-air-traffic-control
White, K. (2020, July 23). Ground, tower, approach - understanding air traffic control. Flying Pig Helicopters. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://flyingpighelicopters.co.uk/ground-tower-approach-understanding-air-traffic-control/
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