With the never-ending inter-city flight travel of today's age, there is even more concern and priority measures needed as regard air safety. With the airplanes, the pilots, air stewardesses there is also Ground Control where we check in with tickets
and luggage. Okay, we go to the airport, we get on the plane then we arrive at our destination. But, what happens in between? Who gets us there safely ? It's not just the pilot. That's a hefty job for one person! Then who REALLY gets us there?

A good proportion of the responsibility, apart from the pilots and the airline crew lies on the Air Traffic Controllers shoulders. Their work entails:

* Minimizing delays
* Planes staying safe distance apart
* Directing air traffic through designated spaces
* Guiding planes through turbulence
* Guiding planes that need help through faulty mechanism
* To organize flow IN and OUT of airport
* Guidance from beginning of runway to hangar or ramp terminal
* Redirection guidance if hi-jacked
* Redirection guidance if no fuel or low fuel

Commercial as well as private airports have Air Traffic Controllers, and they also work in close proximity with the Air Traffic Control Tower.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Changes in weather, wind strength factor, heavy fog or storms are all indications enough to warrant notification. In these cases A. T. C. inform pilots constantly of constant wind change. Without this vital information pilots can lose control of aircraft.

PLANES ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

During arrival and departures several A.T.Cs direct each plane. As pilot approaches destination he contacts ahead to A.T.C. of positioning. After this step, the controller located beneath the Control Tower has located and pinpointed the exact position and arrival time of incoming plane. If all systems are go, plane is directed to proceed to landing on runway.

AIRPORTS TOO BUSY

ARRIVALS: If the airport is overcrowded plane-wise, the incoming flight will be redirected to an air traffic pattern, along with other planes waiting to land. As the plane nears the runway, the pilot is asked to contact the tower. There, another controller can monitor the plane by radar, meanwhile delaying any departures that will interfere with the oncoming plane. The Ground Controller may work by sight, or radar if visibility is under-average.
DEPARTURES: The schedule is reversed for departures. The plane is navigated to fitting runway. The controller advises pilot of weather, wind factor and direction, as well as visibility. The plane then receives clearance for takeoff.

Air Traffic Controllers are employed at both Traffic Control Centers and airports.

THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

The alpha and omega of advancement. At Traffic Control Centers controllers expedite flight plans out to teams. To gain promotion here is slow in process. In time, the elevation is to Radar Associate Controller, then to Radar Controller.

At airports, controllers stock pilots with flight info, plans and ground data. Their next step up will be to Ground Controller, to Local Controller, to Departure Controller and, last but not least , to Arrival Controller.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

The Federal Aviation Administration does the defined area of training which in essence amounts to two to four years of training. This education requires articulation, intelligence AND good memory, together with decisiveness and good concentration.

So, these are the "ins and outs" of Air Traffic Controllers Positions. This is the invisible super body that help us fly the "friendly skies"!

site source: www.faa.gov.
Word count: 553

Learn more about this author, Frances O'Neill.
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