Definition of Air Traffic Control

Every day thousands of airplanes fly through the skies carrying millions of passengers. For this to be possible, rigorous air traffic control is necessary. The professionals who carry out this activity are air traffic controllers. It is estimated that there are about 90,000 commercial flights on the planet as a whole, so that half a million people travel through the world. air.

A little history

During the first decades of aviation history, the number of flights was very small and, consequently, it was not necessary to organize the airspace. The pilots navigated as if they were sailors, using a compass and a watch. Until the 1930s there were no generalized controls on aircraft traffic. Gradually, an international air control system was created with the aim of avoiding any type of accident.

It was during World War II when the radar system was introduced to know the location of airplanes in space. Radars emit waves that are reflected off flying devices. The echo detected by the radar antennas allows

decide accurately position the airplane. This system was refined in the 1960s with a more sophisticated radar that allows more information about the plane, such as the velocity, altitude or aircraft identification.

A complex activity

Air traffic has an extensive control network that covers practically the entire planet. Obviously, a complex activity is carried out in the operations control centers. Thus, flight regulators prepare the plans of the different flights to specify which is the best route to follow.

In aeronautics, the routes used are not in a straight line, since there are a series of parameters that must be taken into account so that the flights are comfortable and safe for passengers (among the indicators that are taken into account to ensure the safety the storm cores stand out in the trajectory of an airplane).

A job with great responsibility

The lives of millions of passengers depend on the drivers. These professionals make the flight plans, which are transferred to the pilots. In this way, controllers and pilots handle the same information.

Most air traffic controllers do not have a regular schedule. Each professional It is normally in charge of a function, for example arrivals or departures of airplanes. They must supervise the distances and the times of action of the aircraft.

On the other hand, it is necessary to control the movements of the aircraft on the ground (this function is performed by the taxi controller). If a professional acts ineffectively, delays increase.

When emergencies or situations of risk these professionals must make decisions in a few seconds.

Photos: Fotolia - Archivist / Aerogondo

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