8.2 Air Traffic Control Entities

 

The ground controller is responsible for all ground traffic, which includes aircraft taxiing from the gates to takeoff runways and from landing runways to the gates. When the ground controller determines that it is safe, the ground controller directs the pilot to push the plane back from the gate. Airline personnel operate the tugs that push the aircraft back and direct the plane out of the gate area. As the plane taxis to the runway, the ground controller watches all the airport's taxiways and uses ground radar to track all the aircrafts, especially during bad weather, ensuring the plane does not cross any active runway or interfere with ground vehicles. The ground controller talks with the pilot by radio and gives the pilot instructions, such as which way to taxi and which runway to go to for takeoff. Once the plane reaches the designated takeoff runway, the ground controller passes the strip to the local controller.

The local controller in the tower watches the skies above the airfield and uses surface radar to track aircrafts. The controller is responsible for maintaining safe distances between planes as they take off. The local controller gives pilots final clearance for takeoff when it is deemed safe and provides the new radio frequency for the departure controller. Once clearance is given, the pilot must decide if it is safe to take off. If it is safe, the pilot accelerates the plane down the runway. As the plane leave the ground, the local controller hands the plane off electronically to the departure controller at the TRACON facility that services the departure airport, but still monitors the plane until it is 5 miles from the airport.

Both ground and local controllers have one goal in mind, safety. The safety of incoming and outgoing traffic of the airport. Ground controllers are constantly racking and stacking aircrafts. As long as the aircrafts are in that airport, it is the ground controller's responsibility to safely direct the aircrafts to the gates or to the runways. Once the aircraft reach the designated takeoff runway, the local controller takes over. The local controller objective is to give pilots clearances to safely takeoff.  

Word Count: 360

References

Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. (2021). How Air Traffic Control Works. 

https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/air-traffic-control.htm#:~:text=The%20air%20traffic%20control%20in,and%20%E2%80%9CFlight%20Service%20Station%E2%80%9D.