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.
1,053
questions
3
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4answers
871 views
What kind of waypoints/routes are used to prepare a flight plan in practice?
I have noticed that FAA provides data delivery service where both waypoints and ATS routes are available to download. By looking at the files, I realize that there are a variety of waypoints and ...
10
votes
1answer
474 views
Which commercial aircraft can fly Micro-SLOP procedures?
"Strategic Lateral Offset Procedures (SLOP) are approved procedures
that allow aircraft to fly on a parallel track to the right of the
centre line relative to the direction of flight to mitigate ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I get 'lead point' for aircraft to intercept final course?
As controller, I always wonder when should I instruct aircraft to turn. The aircraft does not turn at right angles as soon as instructed, but rather has turning radius. So, I tried to find the formula ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
May the tower use the runway while an emergency aircraft is inbound?
I have a question regarding an aircraft in emergency. Of course it will have priority for landing but if the position of this aircraft is very far, like for example 20 minutes or more away,
would the ...
2
votes
3answers
791 views
What is the standard report when pilots exiting and clearing the runway
Let us say I landed on runway 7 and will exit the runway thru taxiway Charlie, is that a standard report like "(Aircraft ID) taxing clear RW7 at Charlie"?
4
votes
2answers
221 views
Are there locations/altitudes with minimum speed requirements?
For example, a slower aircraft operating on the North Atlantic Track System would have an operational impact on surrounding/overtaking aircraft as well as potentially increasing ATC workload to ensure ...
0
votes
1answer
267 views
Are Transponder Mode A and C still in use?
Are the ATC transponder Mode A and Mode C still in use (according to ICAO or FAA rules)?
1
vote
1answer
549 views
What was the motivation for revoking the licence to the pilots of Northwest flight 188?
This video describes Northwest flight 188, where two pilots overshot their destination by 150 miles, without contacting ATC for an hour. They cited 'cockpit distractions' as the reason and ...
7
votes
1answer
528 views
On ATC's radar, does an aircraft that loses its transponder simply disappear?
If you look at shows like Air Crash Investigation, which surely take some creative license in how events are portrayed, they often portray the disappearance of an aircraft, or specifically loss of its ...
4
votes
2answers
279 views
Can a commercial pilot decide where to make their turn after departure?
If there aren't published vectors to tell a commercial pilot which heading to take as they climb, can they decide where to make their initial turn on their own or would an ATC always involved in where ...
1
vote
1answer
188 views
What is the procedure to fill/send/approve a flight plan to the ATS network from outside?
We are planning to develop an app that allows general pilots to fill/send a flight plan to the ATS. We're wondering to know if it is needed to have a regular access (register access or account) to the ...
6
votes
3answers
306 views
Do helicopters need a class B entry clearance when air / hover taxiing?
You're a helicopter pilot at a class B airport. You'd like to taxi to another parking spot. The ground controller could either give you a hover taxi clearance or an air taxi clearance, depending on ...
4
votes
1answer
158 views
Why does the US not have AIREPs?
After looking into aircraft report data at Aviation Weather Center, I realized that PIREP is usually reported inside of US; on the other hand, AIREP is typically reported outside of US. I was ...
2
votes
1answer
334 views
What is the definition of “airport boundary”?
While flying in to KBTR in a helicopter, I called tower and stated “10 west, landing south ramp with information Mike”. They responded “proceed to the airport boundary”. When I was closer I got the ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the proper ICAO phraseology to activate a flight plan?
OK, so you have a flight plan filed (over internet, phone, company or however), go to the aircraft and get in the cockpit. So you call the controller and request IFR or VFR as appropriate.
What is ...
3
votes
0answers
79 views
What is the FAA regulation for the 3 mile / 1,000' separation for a commercial airliner? [duplicate]
I need help finding the Number/Citation for the FAA regulation/order that states commercial airliner separation should usually be at least 3 miles laterally, or 1,000 feet vertically.
I cannot find ...
7
votes
1answer
259 views
What is a "KALP114A" ATC regulation?
My flight (in Spain) was delayed for 6h and after I submitted the claim the airline worker answered me that it was delayed due to KALP114A regulations imposed by ATC, but I didn't find any info, that ...
2
votes
0answers
147 views
Are there any cases on record of an aircraft crashing into an occupied air traffic control tower?
Aircraft frequently1 crash, or come close to crashing, from almost every cause imaginable, on or near airports, these being places where aircraft of all sizes take off and land and sleep with many ...
1
vote
2answers
321 views
What are the Area Control Center (ACC) frequencies for Germany?
I'm looking for the frequencies of all Area Control Centers (ACC) in Germany. What are they, or where are they published?
6
votes
1answer
125 views
How universal are air traffic control systems, training and practices?
A commercial pilot, especially in the airline industry, is in a role that is essentially the same as that of a pilot who is employed and was trained in just about any other part of the world.
Does ...
4
votes
1answer
489 views
Are requests for an emergency landing ever refused?
Under what circumstances might it happen that a pilot's request to make an emergency landing is refused?
Is such a thing known to have occurred?
12
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is air traffic control done manually by humans?
I'm not a pilot but have a software developer background, so forgive my aviation naivety.
From what I understand there have been numerous issues and almost-issues relating to human air traffic ...
10
votes
1answer
597 views
Is the taxi route omitted in low visibility (LVP)?
This video shows an auto land into Schiphol during bad weather / LVP (Low Visibility Procedures).
After reporting vacated, the ATC instruction is quite short (around 2:45). Simply the gate number. (I'...
2
votes
2answers
380 views
Does ICAO allow continued flight in RVSM airspace after a transponder failure?
If a civil aircraft's transponder fails in RVSM airspace, can it still be allowed to fly in RVSM according to ICAO?
And could it be allowed to fly in class A airspace, according to ICAO?
19
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2answers
2k views
Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff?
Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff? Do they have ATC? How do seaplanes get clearance to takeoff?
0
votes
3answers
165 views
Why is it necessary to fly in visual conditions to certain unmanned airstrips?
I have come across certain unmanned airstrips where only VFR flight is allowed not IFR? I wonder what can be the possible reasons for that?
4
votes
1answer
267 views
Does ATC clear IFR helicopters for a visual approach if landing at a helipad on a high-rise?
I'm guessing that most helipads on downtown high rises don't have any instrument approaches. If a helicopter is on an IFR to a helipad without any instrument approaches, does ATC just clear them for ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
How many aircraft does an ATC controller usually handle at the same time?
My question relates to the question What is the maximum number of planes a controller can control?, which asks about the maximum limit. One comment indicated 35 aircraft per hour for en-route segment. ...
0
votes
1answer
169 views
In the US, in actual practice, workload permitting, will ARTC facilities grant SVFR clearance for surface-level Class E "extensions" (E4 airspace)?
In the US, in actual practice, workload permitting, will ARTC Centers and Approach Control facilities grant clearance for Special VFR operations in surface-level Class E "extensions" (E4 ...
6
votes
2answers
309 views
How do messages get from the destination airport to a pilot?
A captain waiting in her airliner for take-off at an airport might inform her passengers:
We'll be waiting another ten minutes before we're able to take off, as traffic is very busy at [destination]...
57
votes
3answers
15k views
Did we get closer to another plane than we were supposed to, or was the pilot just protecting our delicate sensibilities?
Yesterday, April 28, 2019, I was flying on Alaska flight 557 from LAX to PDX.
About an hour into the flight (near the California/Oregon border) I was looking out the window and saw a jet travelling ...
0
votes
1answer
521 views
Is it Legal to listen to Air Traffic Control Frequencies in the USA on a computer for entertainment?
like listening to scanners an radio frequencies for entertainment and i make it a game because i use a online flight tracker and try to find that aircraft. Is it legal?
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Why does V165 have two different MEAs over the same route section?
Why does V165 have two distinct MEAs which vary by a large factor (apart from the 180$^{\circ}$ rule of altitudes) considering they would be clearing the same obstacles and receiving signals from the ...
5
votes
5answers
4k views
What is an appropriate way to practice ATC communications?
I'm a PPL trainee and I'm looking for a way to improve my radio communication.
https://www.liveatc.net/ is a great way to practice but I can't fully understand the conversation between the unit and ...
3
votes
1answer
247 views
Are ATC assigned altitudes temperature compensated?
For the purposes of commercial air traffic operating in a terminal/approach space area that has temperature compensation applied to waypoints in the active flight plan, if ATC assigns an altitude, ...
15
votes
3answers
6k views
How long after the last departure shall the airport stay open for an emergency return?
For how long after the last take off for that day, will an airport stay open for emergency return of that last departed aircraft? Where can I find that recommendation?
To clarify: an airport needs to ...
4
votes
2answers
251 views
How (and when) does Heathrow alternate arrival paths?
I've noticed that flights over Richmond (particularly arrivals) seem to have significantly reduced over the last few weeks. This is based on looking at Flightradar, as well as listening to the noise ...
2
votes
1answer
166 views
Are the nearby airplanes cleared of the sky when launching Falcon Heavy? [duplicate]
I was checking Flightradar24 when launch occurred and didn't see any difference. Also, 3 boosters landed back successfully. I assume the sky has to be clear of airplanes to avoid any potential ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
How is radar separation assured between primary and secondary targets?
Air traffic control radars come in two flavours, with most ATC centers using both and displaying the output of both on a single screen:
Primary surveillance radar (PSR) is a true radar system, which ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
Do airline pilots ever risk not hearing communication directed to them specifically, from traffic controllers?
I gather pilots communicate regularly with air traffic controllers within air traffic controllers' jurisdiction or airspace as they enter the space, during their time in that space and as they leave. ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
How are change-overs between regional air traffic patterns communicated? [duplicate]
The airport near me that has two major landing/takeoff patterns part of a large regional air traffic control plan involving other major international airports (SFO/OAK/SJC)
The duplicate-cited ...
-1
votes
1answer
746 views
What does the ATC term "a company traffic" mean? [duplicate]
During my flight training I often heard the term "a company traffic" in radio calls from the ATC like:
N123AB a company traffic is joining downwind runway 24
...
7
votes
1answer
115 views
What is the name of the format of route with the dots? Eg. DTW..LAYNE.DXO006 (...)
I found in our data a route formatted with dots instead of with spaces and DCTs. Example:
DTW..LAYNE.DXO006.BNNET.YQG341.DIRKS.J38.GRB/0052
What is the name of ...
2
votes
1answer
761 views
Why are tugs the least priority when talking to ground?
I was listening to this ATC conversation (3:10) and wondering:
Why are tugs the least priority when talking to ground? I am thinking that some tugs might be towing aircraft that need to depart.
Why ...
4
votes
1answer
213 views
What benefits does Automatic Dependent Surveillance bring to continental ATC over Mode S?
In particular, to the extent that there are mandates for it in USA and Europe?
I checked various posts here and official descriptions (e.g., faa.gov), but I can't figure out the following:
For ...
3
votes
4answers
627 views
May an IFR aircraft be instructed to "squawk VFR" if it goes around while executing a visual approach?
A pilot on an IFR flight plan is executing a visual approach to a towered airport.
The pilot executes a go-around due to gusting winds and notifies the tower controller. The controller asks his ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
How late can a landing clearance be given?
I regularly fly VFR in an (EASA-) airport where the tower is sometimes rather busy and the frequency full which led a few times to me receiving landing clearances as late as 10-20ft AGL above the ...
2
votes
0answers
83 views
How are rotorcraft and/or VTOL aircraft handled once they get to an airport? [duplicate]
I am asking this from an ATC perspective ... my experience as a pilot is that they would make helicopters fly the same approach but once they got the airport environment in site where do they go? Taxi ...
1
vote
2answers
986 views
Why is it the ATC recording of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 is not yet available online?
I understand sites like liveatc.net constantly stream the conversation between the ATC and pilots. Why is it that there's no such recording for Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 yet?
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vote
2answers
1k views
"Report a 3 mile right base" - where is it measured from? [duplicate]
At which position should you report to ATC?