THE EYES OF THE SKIES: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Millions of people fly/travel every day, but often pay no attention to how this feat is
possible. Passengers are usually oblivious to the inner workings of air travel. When you are
travelling on the road, you can see the vehicles coming opposite, on the left/right side or
even behind and avoid colliding with the other vehicles. However, pilots are unaware of
any flights flying to his left, right, behind or ahead. With so many different flights taking
place in the skies at any given time, it is remarkable that the flights reach safely from point
A to point B. The reason: there are several eyes monitoring every ounce of airspace and
managing a multitude of flights at all times. This imperative task belongs to Air Traffic
Control (ATC)and the eyes belongs to Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs)present at the
ground based tallest structure called Air Traffic Control Tower and various other Air Traffic
Service units located at all airports.
Primary objective of Air Traffic Control is to prevent collisions between aircraft. In
order to achieve this objective, the Air Traffic Controller issues clearances to provide safe
separation between aircraft at any given time. Internationally agreed standards and
procedures are followed to accommodate the aircraft movements in a safe and orderly
manner.

Importance of ATCs to the Pilots

The sky is totally managed by the Air traffic controllers. He tells the pilot when to start the
engines, where to taxi, when to take off, which runway to use, what speed to fly and what
height to maintain to ensure adequate separation between aeroplanes; he tells him when to
descend, how fast to descend, what the weather at destination is, he clears him to land and
tells him how to taxi his aeroplane to the parking slot, so that his passengers can disembark
safely at journey's end. In case of any emergency, ATC alerts other agencies to be prepared
to save the passengers.
How Is Air Traffic Managed?

An aircraft once airborne sets course to the destination on a predetermined path designed
with reference to the ground equipment. A pilot when flying is effectively blindfolded - he
tunes to the ground installations using onboard instruments, to fly on the desired route. In
the absence of Radar, the Controller on ground is also effectively blindfolded, in the sense
that he cannot see the aircraft physically, but he obtains the position of all aircraft flying in
his jurisdiction, he controls and guides them using mental image that he would create and
update continuously, and thereby separates aircraft with other potential traffic present in
its route.

Divisions of Air Traffic Control:

Ground Control is the first set of controllers to whom a pilot will speak; they are
responsible for taxiing aircraft movement to and from the runway. They will also prevent
collision of the aircraft from other vehicles personnel and materials etc. Just before takeoff
the pilot is transferred to Tower Control. The Tower controller ensures a clear runway for
the take-off and landing procedures of all aircraft within a 5 mile radius of the airport.
Tower Control also maintains separation patterns/times between aircraft, ordering “go-
around’s” when the runway is not clear or landing is not safe.

Once the aircraft is airborne and out of range with the Tower, it is transferred to
Approach/Departure Control, who monitors aircraft from five miles out to around 30 –
50 miles from the airport. Approach Control’s primary role is to provide separation of
aircraft in and out of the airport area and sequence all approaching and departing flights.
Approach Controls are usually associated with the control tower of major airports,
monitoring a significant area of air traffic.

ATCOs at Area Control Centers are responsible for issuing instructions to pilots to climb
their aircraft to their assigned altitude while, at the same time, ensuring that the aircraft is
properly separated from all other aircraft in the immediate area. Additionally, the aircraft
must be placed in a flow consistent with the aircraft's route of flight. This effort is
complicated by crossing traffic, severe weather, special missions that require large airspace
allocations, and traffic density.

To put this in perspective, imagine a flight from Chennai to Madurai. During this
hypothetical flight, a pilot would have to speak to 8 or more different people in the
following sequence: Chennai Ground Control, Chennai Tower, Chennai Approach, Chennai
Area Control, Trivandrum Area Control and finally Madurai Approach control/Madurai
Tower/Madurai Ground Control, where the aircraft reaches its destination. Without the
many eyes of ATC, this route would be nearly impossible to manoeuver safely, especially at
night or in adverse weather conditions. ATC plays a vital and, at times, unrecognized role
in everyday air travel procedures and safety.
Air Traffic Control Procedures

Two modes of Air Traffic Control are practised i.e., i) Radar Control &ii)Procedural control.

Under procedural control, ATC decisions are based on the information given by the pilot
regarding the present and future position of the aircraft.

In the case of the Radar control, the controller gets accurate visual information on the
positions of various aircraft. Hence the required minimum separation between aircraft is
less than under procedural control and the capacity in terms of number of aircraft handled
is more.

The essence of separation is that not more than one aircraft should be at the same place at
the same time and at the same level; or at least, one of these three should be different. The
separation parameters in terms of distance, time or levels (vertical) are referred in what is
called Controller’s Bible “DOC4444” which is an International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) document.

Careers:

So demanding is the job of ATCOs that no compromise can be made in respect of their
physical as well as mental fitness as a Controller. As such, an intensive training schedule
has to be maintained during the entire period of Controller's activity. In order to remain as
an ATCO, it is mandatory that the ATCO continuously enriches himself with sound job
knowledge, integrate his theoretical knowledge with on- the- job practice of air space
management, clear examinations and undergoes simulation of ATC emergencies conducted
from time to time at the training centres and at various airports.

If one wants to be an aspiring ATCO to face a most challenging job and to be paid with an
attractive salary package (including unique Rating and Stress allowance), monitor
“http://www.aai.aero” and apply through online when there is a call. The candidate shall
have good eyesight and hearing ability and also should have minimum proficiency in both
spoken and written English of the level of 10+2 standard. He/she must have held regular
full time Bachelor’s Degree (3 years) in Science (B.Sc.) with Physics and Mathematics
from a recognized university with minimum 60% marks or full time regular Bachelor’s
degree in Engineering/Technology (B.E./B.Tech) in any discipline with minimum 60%
marks. This is an all India transferable job. Final year students also can apply for this
job. Women candidates are exempted from paying the application fee.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) TOWER - Flights which can be seen in an Aerodrome
(i.e about to land or takeoff) are controlled by Air Traffic Controllers from ATC Tower.
Landing and take-off clearances to flights are issued by ATC Officers.
 TOWER CONTROLLER - CHENNAI

ATC TOWER

ATC CENTRE

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) TOWER – & AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) CENTRE
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL(ATC) CENTRE - Flights which are beyond the
aerodrome(which cannot be seen) are controlled from here by Air Traffic Controllers
using RADAR. Which route, height and at what speed aircraft should fly are provided by
ATC officers from this ATC Centre. Chennai ATC centre controls the flights flying in the
entire southern region.
CHENNAI ROUTE SURVEILLANCE RADAR & AREA CONTROL CENTRE
APPROACH RADAR CONTROLLER - CHENNAI

CHENNAI AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES COMPLEX