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- Definition:
- A service provided by ground-based controllers who manage aircraft movements on the ground and in the air to ensure safe and efficient travel.
- Functions:
- Control: Directs aircraft during takeoff, landing, and while in-flight, maintaining safe distances between planes.
- Coordination: Manages the flow of air traffic in controlled airspace and on airport runways and taxiways.
- Communication: Provides instructions to pilots regarding altitude changes, flight path adjustments, and other operational aspects.
- Safety: Monitors weather conditions and adjusts flight plans as needed to ensure safe travel.
- Components:
- Tower Control: Manages aircraft movements on the airport’s runways and taxiways.
- Approach Control: Handles aircraft arriving at or departing from an airport within a specified radius.
- En-Route Control: Oversees aircraft traveling through the airspace between airports.
- Equipment:
- Radar systems, communication radios, and flight planning software are used to monitor and guide aircraft.
Air traffic controllers play a critical role in preventing collisions, managing air traffic flow, and ensuring overall flight safety.
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