Introduction to Air Traffic Control
First we will watch this video together to give you an introduction to air traffic control. Then you will have time to explore the links below.
First we will watch this video together to give you an introduction to air traffic control. Then you will have time to explore the links below.
So air traffic controllers are constantly talking to pilots to direct their flight paths. What does this communication sound like? Click below to hear a live feed from the air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport. If you've ever been on a plane before, chances are you flew out of this airport. Maybe one of these air traffic controllers was even guiding your plane to take off or landing!
Click here to listen: www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/21614
Tricks of the Trade
Roger? Niner? Alpha? What does any of this mean?
It turns out that air traffic controllers have their own complicated jargon for talking with pilots and other air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA, which hires air traffic controllers, publishes a handbook containing all the procedures and jargon air traffic controllers need to understand. The document, which is linked to below is 729 pages!
www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ATC.pdf
Numbers and letters are pronounced in a special, standardized way. See the table below to see the code for each letter and number. Air traffic controllers pronounce letters this way so that there is no confusion about instructions being given.
Air traffic controllers help pilots to control their speed and the distance they travel. These are measured differently in the sea and air than on land. Instead of talking about distance in miles (or in the longer form, statute miles), air traffic controllers use the units nautical miles. One nautical mile is equal to 1.15 statute miles. To convert between these units, you can also use this website.
Similarly, when talking about speed, miles per hour is not the common unit. Instead, air traffic controllers use the units nautical miles per hour, also known as knots. To learn more about how air traffic controllers direct airplanes, see this worksheet created by NASA. Make sure you read this information, since it will be very helpful for tomorrow, when you will be working on solving problems an air traffic controller might face.
Click here to listen: www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/21614
Tricks of the Trade
Roger? Niner? Alpha? What does any of this mean?
It turns out that air traffic controllers have their own complicated jargon for talking with pilots and other air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA, which hires air traffic controllers, publishes a handbook containing all the procedures and jargon air traffic controllers need to understand. The document, which is linked to below is 729 pages!
www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ATC.pdf
Numbers and letters are pronounced in a special, standardized way. See the table below to see the code for each letter and number. Air traffic controllers pronounce letters this way so that there is no confusion about instructions being given.
Air traffic controllers help pilots to control their speed and the distance they travel. These are measured differently in the sea and air than on land. Instead of talking about distance in miles (or in the longer form, statute miles), air traffic controllers use the units nautical miles. One nautical mile is equal to 1.15 statute miles. To convert between these units, you can also use this website.
Similarly, when talking about speed, miles per hour is not the common unit. Instead, air traffic controllers use the units nautical miles per hour, also known as knots. To learn more about how air traffic controllers direct airplanes, see this worksheet created by NASA. Make sure you read this information, since it will be very helpful for tomorrow, when you will be working on solving problems an air traffic controller might face.