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.
1,009
questions
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1answer
690 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
189 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
3answers
435 views
Is it normal to instruct an aircraft to squawk VFR if it goes around on an IFR visual approach? [closed]
A pilot is flying IFR on a visual approach to a towered airport. He elects to go around due to gusting winds and notifies the tower. The tower then asks his intentions. He replies that he would still ...
14
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2answers
1k 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
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0answers
80 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 ...
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vote
2answers
958 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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2answers
909 views
“Report a 3 mile right base” - where is it measured from? [duplicate]
At which position should you report to ATC?
2
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1answer
335 views
How to correctly interpret the taxi procedures in ICAO Doc 4444?
I have a question to ICAO Doc4444, Chapter 12.3.4.7, Taxi procedures for departure, c).
My question is how to interpret the following, knowing that words in parentheses are mandatory, and words in ...
8
votes
1answer
612 views
What are the pros and cons of practising figure-eight landings on perpendicular runways?
This is just a gee-whiz question, I have no intention of doing this nor am I trying to get anyone's blessing on this.
Part of remaining current to legally take passengers up in a plane is having 3 ...
2
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2answers
292 views
Is mode C required for CVFR in Canadian Class B airspace?
(This is in reference to Canadian Airspace)
Can you fly in Class B airspace under CVFR (Controlled Visual Flight Rules) without a transponder with Mode c (altitude encoding) capability?
To enter ...
0
votes
1answer
201 views
In-game Air Traffic Control questions [closed]
I have been making an AI ATC for a game I have been writing. The channel is mostly dead air but occasionally you can hear some chatter:
http://reskin.us:8081/stream
I am a former airline pilot and a ...
3
votes
1answer
173 views
Is navigation around thunderheads done at the pilot's discretion?
It's my understanding that if a pilot is flying over an ocean or otherwise uncontrolled airspace and they encounter a cumulonimbus, they navigate around it at their discretion.
How does this happen ...
4
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2answers
2k views
How do I pick the right ATC channel to listen to my flight?
I'm trying to listen to my flight's ATC communications (flying United out of SFO). What is the difference between ramp, ground, and departure channels? Ground and departure have multiple frequencies, ...
0
votes
2answers
96 views
How does the traffic pattern at a large airport affect nearby, smaller airports?
Do the landing and takeoff directions for a smaller airport (GA and bizjet traffic) change when the traffic direction at a nearby large airport changes?
Specifically, I'm wondering about how traffic ...
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vote
3answers
2k views
Can a VFR flight follow an IFR route?
Can a VFR flight follow the same route of an approved IFR route (such as those found on Forefight Route Adviser) using waypoints and Victor airways?
21
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2answers
4k views
Should you blow through the final approach course if the ATC forgot about you? [duplicate]
So you were being vectored for the final approach course (ILS/RNAV/whatever) and the controller forgot about you for some reason (busy). Assume you called them and they were not replying. Also assume ...
5
votes
1answer
5k views
What is the difference between a ground controller and an air traffic controller? [duplicate]
In terms of their roles at an airport. I'm designing a system that would inform its users if there is space on the runway that a pilot could use to land or take off, when there is an obstacle on the ...
5
votes
1answer
325 views
What does “zero offset between two waypoints” mean in ICAO Doc 4444?
My question is with reference to the GNSS based separation specified in ICAO Doc 4444. Could someone explain the significance/meaning of the condition "zero offset between two waypoints" criteria?
if ...
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votes
1answer
293 views
How can I find the communication with ATC following an aborted landing?
On February 7th, I was on a UA 4694 from DEN to SAF, upon approach the landing was aborted; upon second approach, we heard the landing gear come down, which we did not hear on the first approach; the ...
2
votes
1answer
820 views
Is altitude and heading your discretion when you are cleared visual approach?
If I'm north of KSAN heading east and the controller clears me for the visual approach for runway 27, can I descend and turn the plane at my discretion so that I can get ready for landing?
Also, ...
1
vote
1answer
362 views
What phraseology does ATC use with jet fighter pilots? [closed]
What do they usually say or ask when the fighter pilot wants to take off, when it's in the air, and what is the reply from the fighter pilot?
3
votes
2answers
255 views
How do I translate this propeller start procedure into English?
I'm translating a documentary from Hungarian to English. There is a scene where the pilot of an aeroplane with a propeller is preparing for take-off.
He says (seemingly into a 2-way radio) two short ...
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0answers
181 views
pre-departure sequence, how to increase number of flights in the sequence
If I have number of flights ready to depart (valid TOBT) if I want to increase the number of flights in the queue by adding flights in the gaps between any 2 flights whats the minimum seperation that ...
6
votes
1answer
345 views
What are the helicopter frequencies on the LA heli charts used for?
The LA heli charts list frequencies for the different heli routes in LA:
Are the frequencies used as a "CTAF" for helicopters, or is there an air traffic controller on that frequency telling ...
2
votes
5answers
437 views
ATC calling out regional airlines in traffic advisories: phonetic or “aircraft paint” airline used?
When ATC points out traffic that is a regional airline (e.g. Compass, Envoy, SkyWest, etc.), do they use the phonetic callsign of the airline, or do they use the callsign of the airline that they are ...
7
votes
1answer
400 views
Who manages air traffic during Red Bull air races?
I'll preface this by saying I'm not a pilot so I don't know much about Air Traffic Control.
How does Air Traffic Control work for Red Bull air races? Does:
(1) each plane taking off need to contact ...
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vote
5answers
514 views
Phoenix Area Helicopter ATC: What is “Hee-lah” (Gila?) One, and what is the 101 transition?
I've been listening to the Phoenix Tower LiveATC feed, and I hear references to "Hee-lah" (Gila?) One and the 101 transition with helicopters (see audio files below):
Angel-Five
TV-3
TV-15
Does ...
7
votes
1answer
281 views
Why would ATC issue a takeoff clearance and also tell the same aircraft to maintain visual separation at the same time?
I heard this from the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport tower years ago on a sunny and hot day.
Is it because the controller is able to take off aircraft more quickly by putting the responsibility on pilots ...
7
votes
2answers
835 views
What does “<aircraft type> X miles in trail, runway 25R cleared to land” mean?
I was listening to the LiveATC Phoenix North Tower feed as he was clearing aircraft to land. He said something like "Southwest fifteen sixty five, Phoenix Tower, (aircraft type), X miles in trail, ...
6
votes
1answer
528 views
Can two opposite localizers to a single runway be on simultaneously?
In case of a single runway with two separate ILS systems (one in each end, facing localizers) operating on two different frequencies, can both localizers be on and transmitting at the same time, or ...
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2answers
3k views
When is 'heavy' used in callsign?
I have heared at ATC communication that some aircraft uses a heavy word in the call sign.
What does heavy means?
When it is used?
Is it used when aircraft is heavier than 200-300 tons?
6
votes
4answers
792 views
Why do heavy departures wait 5-10 minutes on the runway at ZRH?
I'm frequently travelling to Zürich for business and I usually make my schedule so that I have at least an hour to do some planespotting and photographing at the ZRH airport.
Whenever I came to the ...
3
votes
1answer
300 views
Where can I find US ARTCC sector boundary coordinates?
For an academic purpose, I would like to map US airspace using GIS tools with coordinates. I found the airspace boundary coordinates from the eNASR, but no luck with the sector boundaries.
Any ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Which pilot (pilot flying, pilot monitoring) handles CPDLC (operates CPDLC interface)?
This question relates to commercial flights, typical two-pilot crew: In some airspaces, e.g. North Atlantic, pilots and Air Traffic Control use Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC, ...
3
votes
3answers
345 views
How could so many drones establish contact with ATC?
India has brought out best set of drone regulations on the basis of No Permission No Take-off (NPNT).
But how can the ATC establish contact with so many drones that will be unpredictably asking for ...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
Does ATC use True Course or Ground Track?
Reading the practice questions for PAR, I came accross this
ATC advises, "traffic 12 o`clock." This advisory is relative to your
A) true course
B) ground track
C) magnetic heading
I was ...
0
votes
0answers
139 views
How much does it cost the airline if an aircraft makes a missed approach? [duplicate]
aircraft go around due to variety of reasons viz. Bad weather (inevitable), unstable approach, ATC errors etc.
knowing the cost implications will help in educating the stakeholders.
4
votes
1answer
2k views
What steps are needed to communicate with ATC on an A320?
In the description to this video, Captain Joe says that it took this inexperienced person 20 minutes to establish radio contact with ATC (in an A320 simulator).
This seems like an awful lot of time ...
6
votes
1answer
407 views
Why doesn't a radar-equipped Tower say “radar contact”?
Most/all of the control towers in my area have radar displays, and I know from visits that it shows all the same things as in TRACON miles away--even aircraft on the ground. I hear them occasionally ...
3
votes
2answers
236 views
Why are waypoints not named uniquely?
Waypoint names are not unique. Why ?
This is unnecessary (it would be possible to use unique names only).
It introduces potential for confusion.
So why are duplicate waypoint names permissible and ...
0
votes
2answers
189 views
If all aircraft were TCAS-equipped, how would this change ATC routines?
« The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent
collisions, organize and expedite the flow of air traffic, and
provide information and other support for pilots. » (source)
If all aircraft ...
2
votes
2answers
429 views
Why are both ATC and TCAS tasked to prevent collisions although TCAS takes precedence anyway?
« The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent collisions
[...] Many aircraft also have collision avoidance systems, which
provide additional safety by warning pilots when other aircraft get
...
0
votes
1answer
470 views
What’s service does ATC service include?
As I’ve studied on ATC service and airspace class by referring to ICAO Annex, I have some doubts on ATC service.
According to ICAO Annex 11, Class D airspace is defined as “IFR and VFR flights are ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Can pilots choose runway and landing direction?
Pilots normally receive landing clearance for a specific runway assigned by ATC. Absent an emergency, can pilots of commercial flights (depending on the wind conditions for example) choose
a ...
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1answer
119 views
When flying commercial a/c form US to Latin America by GPS which agency controls the flight? [duplicate]
When flying internationally from the US to Latin America, the use of GPS is common. What agency or agencies control the flight and how?
4
votes
4answers
770 views
What would happen if I exceeded mach 1 over a regulated area?
What would happen if I exceeded mach 1 over a regulated area? Are there any penalties in place for this violation?
Would ATC actually know I’m flying supersonic or would they have to go out of ...
6
votes
3answers
693 views
Can ATC terminate flight following AND approve (arbitrary) frequency change while still inside Class C airspace?
Unusual (for me) event inside Class C. Can ATC terminate flight following inside Class C and approve frequency change.
Background: Requested and received VFR FF at 6500 msl prior to approaching ONT ...
4
votes
5answers
198 views
Will Tower repeat an initial heading if it's part of my IFR clearance?
If I get an initial heading to fly in my clearance from Clearance Delivery, but the Tower controller does not repeat the heading to fly in my takeoff clearance and I stay on runway heading, can the ...
5
votes
2answers
672 views
Heard on LiveATC that ATC wants to “cancel” something. What did the ATC mean by that?
Just heard this on LiveATC:
ATC has cleared the pilot for an ILS approach
ATC then said something to the pilot, to which the pilot replied, "Roger, will cancel with you on the ground, call sign."
...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How unusual were MH370's final ATC exchanges?
There are 2 noteworthy occurrences in the ATC radio transcript within just minutes of a 3rd noteworthy, quite unprecedented occurrence in aviation history:
At 01:07:55 MH370 unnecessarily reported ...
