Questions tagged [air-traffic-control]
Air Traffic Control (ATC) is a service of ground-based controllers that directs and coordinates aircraft to improve safety and efficiency.
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Are there maximum age limits for non-U.S. Air Traffic Controllers?
In the U.S. the maximum age to work as an air traffic controller (ATC), with limited exception, is 56 years old (source). This maximum age limitation does not apply to ATC personnel who are in staff ...
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How can pilots get other pilots' attention without the use of radio
In this video, a pilot makes the embarrassing mistake of announcing the passengers on an active frequency. During the video, other pilots are apparently trying to get his attention by sending some ...
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Changing SID without changing the flight plan
Pilots are demanding conventional SID rather than RNAV SID planned on flight plan due gps problem. In that case is it enough for a tower controller to coordinate the conventional SID with the approach ...
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When provided with a taxi clearance do you need to immediately comply or can you take your time?
I'm a student pilot and I'm just wondering on if I receive a taxi clearance at an airport then read it back can I wait a minute or two before I actually start taxiing or do I start to go immediately? ...
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Are there procedures for pilots to handle loss of ATC at normally-towered airports?
Are there procedures for pilots to safely handle a situation in which ATC loses the ability to communicate (complete loss of power, incapacitation of all controllers, etc.) at a busy towered airport?
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Does U.S. ATC have the authority to clear an aircraft for a low approach along a runway at an altitude of 200 feet AGL?
In the U.S., does an ATC Tower Controller have the authority to effectively waive 14 CFR Part 91.119 (c) by clearing a pilot for a low approach who has requested to fly at 200 feet AGL along the ...
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How to prepare for the FEAST test, to be ATC controller i didn't have pilot but flown a lot in simulators?
I recently submitted my CV to PANSA (Polish Air Navigation Services Agency), which is a part of Eurocontrol. Since childhood, I have been interested in aviation and I have strong analytical abilities, ...
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When is the word "Over" required in radio transmissions?
From the AIM 4-2-3:
The terms initial contact or initial callup means the first radio call you make to a given facility or the first call to a different controller or FSS specialist within a facility....
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Are tower controllers trained on not overloading pilots with complex taxi instructions while landing?
The above question comes from the following observations:
I've noticed over the years of flying (small GA aircraft) that some towers are talking more and more to me while landing. It used to be ...
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Is there an FAA reference for rounding off of traffic pattern altitudes?
The convention by default is to fly the downwind leg at 1000' above ground level, but most pilots cannot really discern or fly within just a few feet of a chosen altitude, and generally prefer to fly ...
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Why does ATC assign a SID and then give different instructions after takeoff?
I have had many occasions at different airports flying a small single engine piston aircraft out of a Charlie or Delta and they will assign the SID, but give different instructions upon getting ...
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What does the letter in these ATC data blocks indicate?
Why do some have an F and others have a D?
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Are right hand patterns allowed at any airport with approval?
I noticed a GA plane fly pretty low over my house today heading towards PDX. I checked on FlightRadar and noticed it made (what seemed like) an unusual maneuver. It flew directly to the airport and ...
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If ADS-B is on majority of aircraft, why don't we start seeing ASR dying out?
Are radars still needed, or will radars start coming down soon?
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Have the terms Mayday and Pan Pan become less used?
I've noticed listening to videos of emergencies that pilots simply say that their declaring an emergency vs saying Mayday. Am I wrong?
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Why would a plane opt out of flying through a class bravo?
High performance planes that depart Chicago Executive are always vectored to the left of departing towards O'Hare airspace. They than loop around the airport until above O'Hare airspace and continue ...
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Can ATC reject a GA aircraft IFR flight plan to a busy Bravo/Charlie airport?
This may be a dumb question, but can ATC reject or amend your flight plan to prevent a GA training aircraft from flying into a busy airport (i.e. Atlanta)?
As an example, flying VFR near Nashville, ...
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PTT mutes mic w/ A20, Delta Zulu, works with older headsets
New airplane to me. Coms work great using an older headset, David Clark or other brand. When using my Delta Zulu or Bose A20 the intercoms works fine until you press the PTT. When pressed the radio ...
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Was there a TCAS alert during the near miss at Austin TX, where a Boeing 737 was mistakenly cleared for takeoff in front of a 767?
On February 4th 2023, there was a near miss at the airport in Austin TX, where a 767 performing an auto land in foggy conditions nearly collided with a 737 that was taking off on the same runway. The ...
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Why are transponders to be turned off when in formation?
Reading through FAR AIM. I came across the ADSB section which stated that transponders should be turned off except for the lead plane. Why is this?
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What is the Surface Management (SMAN) all about?
Like AMAN (Arrival Management) and DMAN (Departure Management), what is the SMAN (Surface Management) all about? Is SMAN a studied concepts, or is it a technical system ?
If the SMAN is rather a ...
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lCAO level occupancy
As a radar controller, can you clear an aircraft to a level previously occupied by another one in a way that you don't have 1000ft vertical separation between target Mode C indications as long as the ...
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Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) protected volume calculation
I am attempting to determine the TCAS-protected volume by utilizing the tau values listed in the TCAS table
(Reference: Page 23 FAA TCAS-II guilines)
The TCAS table provides distinct tau values for ...
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Why does secondary surveillance radar use a different antenna design than primary radar?
In radar surveillance we use primary and secondary surveillance radar for different purposes.
I'm wondering about the antenna that use in both system:
Secondary Radar uses an array antenna
Primary ...
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Who do you talk to in Class G airspace (UK)?
I'm currently in my early days of learning about aviation, and have just started learning how to use a VFR chart. One thing that I have noticed is that the class D airspaces generally have frequencies ...
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Reporting to ATC when losing visual to traffic?
I'm a PPL student and I recently flew to a class C airport. One of my first flights into class C, actually. Once I contacted the tower and stated my intentions, I was asked to report if I had another ...
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What is Flight and Flow In a Collaborative Environment (FF-ICE)
has anybody came across the Global Air Navigation Plan that focuses on future of aviation in year 2030. It brings in future shape of aviation for all stakeholders such as eASP, eAU and Aerodromes.
One ...
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What odd maneuver is this for a cruising airplane?
Several years ago, I saw a set 4-5 of con-trails converging at nearly the same time and height. They were each executing large turns (90 to 300 degrees) over the same space, starting from various ...
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Why is destination, flight level, and mach number needed in an oceanic clearance?
When getting an oceanic clearance. The aircraft must announce thier destination airport, their intended flight level, and intended mach cruise speed. Why are these necessary?
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How does ATC control traffic without radar?
Clearly, it is necessary and possible for ATC to control air traffic without radar:
not every control tower has a radar feed from a TRACON or their own radar site
over the ocean, aircraft are beyond ...
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Class D under Class C but through another Class D?
New Pilot here, just planning a VFR trip to KGMU but not sure of the transition rules here. I know flight following will take care of the Class C but who do I need to talk to about the other Class D? ...
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How do pilots know when they have to start the descent?
I am trying to understand how pilots do know when to start descending, I have read that mostly it is from the FMS information and ATC clearances (Aviationvector.com). And on some other references, ...
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Ground Handoff to Tower
When a plane is passed from the ground to the tower, do the ground controllers have to give the tower frequency? For example, "N123B Contact Tower on 121.32" rather than "N123B Contact ...
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Tracking ATC communication with a flight of interest
I am a complete newbie, but hopefully this question makes sense. I am interested in tracking communication between a flight and ATC. I've found www.liveatc.net, but I have difficulties understanding ...
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What is the correct use of "REPORT LANDING ASSURED?"
Listening to BDL_TWR on my way to work and I heard tower request of what I presume to be a helicopter pilot: "report landing assured."
I'm an S2 VATSIM ATC and so I'm fairly familiar with ...
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Why is there a short tone in the ATC recording that cuts the pilot transmission using VOX?
I had an experience of listening to tower-to-pilot conversation and noticed that there was a short tone in the audio stream that suppresses the voice/audio signal and causes muting on the recording. I ...
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Are there instances of ATC services being refused to targeted pilots and/or operators?
Jpe61 opines that in certain circumstances aircraft can be denied services because of overdue fees. One service mentioned is ATC. This makes me curious if this could actually happen, since for certain ...
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Is the green route on the airport chart drawn correctly according to the pilot-tower conversations? I do not think so [closed]
I think the green route in the tower pilot conversations is drawn incorrectly. Here the "UNTIL LEFT HOLD SHORT FOR M29" part confuses me. I would be glad if you help.
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What does "Except" mean in this ATC request?
I guess ATC wants the pilot to leave FL 280 for heavy traffic approaching from behind. But since I'm not sure, I wanted to ask. Also in the second quote from pilot, except should be expect, right?
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How is expected approach time phrased in ATC communications?
For example, does an air traffic controller say the full phrase ("expected approach time XX minutes") or are there other conventions?
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Crossing extended runway centerline while intercepting LOC
I know it shouldn't happen but in case it happens for whatever reason, what is correct procedure to save the day. I mean the case that the aircraft is turning but it gets to the wrong side by, let's ...
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What do air traffic controllers call themselves? Or how are ATCs referred? "Controller"? "ATC"? "Control"?
What do air traffic controllers call themselves? Or how are ATCs referred? Is it "controller"? "ATC"? "Control"? For example, if I wanted to say an airport has a shortage ...
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What would an ATC command telling a pilot to maintain a certain speed until a certain distance from the destination sound like?
For example, instructing an aircraft to maintain a speed of 200 knots until it is 10 nautical miles from the destination / runway threshold?
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Do these sound like plausible ATC communications (specifically in China, if that's relevant)?
Working on a small translation project that involves civil aviation. The setting is a Chinese airport. Same idea as my other question -
Do these seem like plausible radio communication dialogue ...
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Do these phrases sound like actual things that could be said during radio communications between pilots and ATCs?
I'm working on some translations and want to make sure that I'm not making things up with the radio communications.
Here are a few sentences I would appreciate help with. Bold font indicates areas I'm ...
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Can I ask ATC a radio check with a handheld radio?
I bought a handheld portable radio capable of transmitting in the air band and I was wondering if I can request a radio check to the ATC to see if the radio works properly. I know it's illegal to talk ...
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Reaching clearance limit
For EASA, if possible.
If I'm IFR flight flying STAR and I receive shortcut to a point which is behind IAF but I'm not cleared for eg. ILS RWY 12 approach, what I'm supposed to do?
I would say that ...
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About the TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE 's symbols
I got one simple question.
In the above image, I know the non-threat traffic and proximity advisory meaning ( the first one means the intruder airplane is +- 1200ft above or below us or the intruder ...
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Can I transition the airspace (pictured below) without 2-way communication?
If I wanted to fly over Beverly regional between 2600-3000ft, do I need to speak to anyone as I do so? I would be above the delta and below the bravo, but the sectional states I must ask for approval ...
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What license do I need to transmit on AirBand frequencies?
I am not a pilot, but at my company we are trying to figure out what FCC license we need to use to talk to our pilot when we are on the ground and they are flying. My research has led me to mixed ...
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