Atc Unit-1 Notes
Atc Unit-1 Notes
1. Objectives of ATS
In order to accomplish the previous objectives, the air traffic services are divided into
three parts:
Air traffic control service will accomplish the objectives of preventing all collisions
between aircraft and expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic
Flight information service will accomplish the objectives of providing advice and
information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights
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1. Area control service: the provision of air traffic control service for en-route
controlled flights except the aircraft associated with arrival or departure routes
or ground movements.
The area control service shall be provided by area control centre or, where no
area control centre is established, by the unit providing approach control service
in a control area of limited extent.
2. Approach control service: the provision of air traffic control service for
controlled flights associated with arrival or departure except the aircraft
associated with ground movements.
The approach control service shall be provided by an approach control unit
when it is necessary or desirable to establish a separate unit or, by an aerodrome
control tower or area control center when it is necessary to combine under the
responsibility of one unit the functions of the approach control service.
3. Aerodrome control service: the provision of air traffic control service for
aerodrome traffic located around the airfield. The Aerodrome control service
shall be provided by an aerodrome control tower.
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And controlling outside your responsibility area is forbidden in IVAO except when
national regulation permits it, or when it is published clearly on charts.
In order to provide air traffic control service, an air traffic control unit shall:
Be provided with information on the intended movement of each aircraft, or
variations thereof, and with current information on the actual progress of each
aircraft;
determine from the information received, the relative positions of known
aircraft to each other;
Issue clearances and information for the purpose of preventing collision
between aircrafts under its control and of expediting and maintaining an orderly
flow of traffic;
Coordinate clearances as necessary with other units whenever an aircraft might
otherwise conflict with traffic operated under the control of such other units or
before transferring control of an aircraft to such other units
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any available information of surface sea vessels in the area for flight over water
areas when requested by a pilot (not simulated by IVAO except in some
specific scenery)
SIGMET and AIRMET information
Information concerning volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds (not
simulated in IVAO)
Information concerning the release into the atmosphere of toxic chemicals (not
simulated in IVAO)
Information of the serviceability of navigation aids
Information on changes in condition of aerodromes and associated facilities,
including information on the state of the aerodrome movement areas
Any other information likely to affect safety
ATIS - automatic terminal information service
The meteorological information and operational information concerning navigation
aids and aerodromes included in the flight information service shall, whenever
available, be provided in an operationally integrated form.
Operational flight information service broadcasts, when provided, should consist of
messages containing integrated information regarding selected operational and
meteorological elements appropriate to the various phases of flight. These broadcasts
should be of three major types, i.e. HF, VHF and ATIS.
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The need for the provision of air traffic services shall be determined by consideration
of the following:
a) the types of air traffic involved;
b) the density of air traffic;
c) the meteorological conditions;
d) Such other factors as may be relevant.
All air traffic services units shall be supplied with up-to-date information on existing
and forecast meteorological conditions as necessary for the performance of their
respective functions.
Units providing area control service shall be supplied with:
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4. Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates
an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where
the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than basic VFR weather
minima, i.e. in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), as specified in the rules of
the relevant aviation authority. The pilot must be able to operate the aircraft with
visual reference to the ground, and by visually avoiding obstructions and other
aircraft.
If the weather is below VMC, pilots are required to use instrument flight rules, and
operation of the aircraft will primarily be through referencing the instruments rather
than visual reference. In a control zone, a VFR flight may obtain a clearance from air
traffic control to operate as Special VFR.
Visual meteorological conditions (or VMC) that is, conditions in
which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual
separation from terrain and other aircraft
Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) is an aviation flight category that
describes weather conditions that require pilots to fly primarily by reference to
instruments, and therefore under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR),
The boundary criteria between IMC and VMC are known as the VMC minima
and are defined by: visibility, cloud ceilings (for takeoffs and landings), and cloud
clearances.
VFR requires a pilot to be able to see outside the cockpit, to control the aircraft's
altitude, navigate, and avoid obstacles and other aircraft. [2] Governing agencies
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establish specific requirements for VFR flight, including minimum visibility, and
distance from clouds, to ensure that aircraft operating under VFR are visible from
enough distance to ensure safety.
Under visual meteorological conditions the minimum visual range, distance from
clouds, or cloud clearance requirements to be maintained above ground vary by
jurisdiction, and may also vary according to the airspace in which the aircraft is
operating.
The VFR pilot is required to "see and avoid" obstacles and other aircraft. Pilots flying
under VFR assume responsibility for their separation from all other aircraft and are
generally not assigned routes or altitudes by air traffic control (ATC). Depending on
the category of airspace in which the flight is being conducted, VFR aircraft may be
required to have a transponder to help Air Traffic Control identify the aircraft on radar
in order that ATC can provide separation to IFR aircraft.
Meteorological conditions that meet the minimum requirements for VFR flight are
termed visual meteorological conditions (VMC). If they are not met, the conditions
are considered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and a flight may only
operate under IFR. IFR operations have specific training requirements and
certification required of the pilot, and increased equipment requirements for the
aircraft. Additionally, an IFR flight plan must usually be filed in advance. For
efficiency of operations, some ATC operations will routinely provide "pop-up" IFR
clearances for aircraft operating VFR, but that are arriving at an airport that does not
meet VMC requirements. For example, in the United States, California's Oakland
(KOAK), Monterey (KMRY) and Santa Ana (KSNA) airports routinely grant
temporary IFR clearance when a low coastal overcast forces instrument approaches,
while the rest of the state is still under visual flight rules.
In most if not all countries of the world, VFR pilots also have an option for
requesting Special VFR when meteorological conditions at an airport are below
normal VMC minima, but above Special VFR requirements. Special VFR is only
intended to enable takeoffs and landings from airports that are near to VMC
conditions, and may in some States only be performed during daytime hours if a pilot
does not possess an instrument rating.
VFR flight is not allowed in airspace known as class A, regardless of the
meteorological conditions except after failure of two way radio communications. In
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the United States, class A airspace begins at 18,000 feet msl, and extends to an
altitude of 60,000 feet msl.
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6. Classification of airspaces
ATS airspaces in India are classified and designated in accordance with following.
The two categories of airspace are: regulatory and non regulatory. Within these two
categories there are four types: controlled, uncontrolled, special use, and other
airspace.
Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers the different classifications of
airspace and defined dimensions within which air traffic control (ATC) service is
provided in accordance with the airspace classification. Controlled airspace consists
of:
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Class E
Class A:
IFR flights only are permitted; all flights are provided with air traffic control service
and are separated from each other.
Class B:
IFR and VFR flights are permitted; all flights are provided with air traffic control
service and are separated from each other.
Class C:
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IFR and VFR flights are permitted, all flights are provided with air traffic control
service and IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and from VFR flights.
VFR flights are separated from IFR flights and receive traffic information in respect
of other VFR flights.
Class D:
IFR and VFR flights are permitted and all flights are provided with air traffic control
service,
IFR flights are separated from other IFR flights and receive traffic information in
respect of VFR flights. VFR flights receive traffic information in respect of all other
flights. Airspaces in terminal areas, control areas, control zones and aerodrome traffic
zones have been classified and designated as class D airspace.
Class E:
IFR and VFR flights are permitted; IFR flights are provided with air traffic control
service and are separated from other IFR flights. IFR flights receive traffic
information in respect of VFR flights; VFR flights receive traffic information in
respect of all other flights, as far as is practical. Class E is not be used for control
zones. Airspaces in designated ATS routes outside terminal areas, control areas and
control zones, where air traffic control service is provided, have been classified and
designated as class E airspace.
Class F:
IFR and VFR flights are permitted. All IFR flights receive an air traffic advisory
service and all flights receive flight information service, if requested. Airspaces in
designated ATS route segments outside terminal areas, control areas and control
zones, where air traffic advisory service is provided, have been classified and
designated as class F airspace.
Uncontrolled Airspace
Class G
Uncontrolled airspace or Class G airspace is the portion of the airspace that has not
been designated as Class A, B, C, D, or E. It is therefore designated uncontrolled
airspace. Class G airspace extends from the surface to the base of the overlying Class
E airspace. Although ATC has no authority or responsibility to control air traffic,
pilots should remember there are visual flight rules (VFR) minimums which apply to
Class G airspace.
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IFR and VFR flights are permitted and receive flight information service if requested.
Airspaces other than those in Class D, E and F have been classified and designated as
class G airspace.
Special use airspace or special area of operation (SAO) is the designation for airspace
in which certain activities must be confined, or where limitations may be imposed on
aircraft operations that are not part of those activities. Certain special use airspace
areas can create limitations on the mixed use of airspace. The special use airspace
depicted on instrument charts includes the area name or number, effective altitude,
time and weather conditions of operation, the controlling agency, and the chart panel
location. On National Aeronautical Charting Group (NACG) en route charts, this
information is available on one of the end panels. Special use airspace usually consists
of:
Prohibited areas
Restricted areas
Warning areas
Military operation areas (MOAs)
Alert areas
Controlled firing areas (CFAs)
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In air traffic control, separation is the name for the concept of keeping an aircraft outside
a minimum distance from another aircraft to reduce the risk of those aircraft colliding, as
well as prevent accidents due to wake turbulence.
Air traffic controllers apply rules, known as separation minima to do this. Pairs of aircraft
to which these rules have been successfully applied are said to be separated: the risk of
these aircraft colliding is therefore remote. If separation is lost between two aircraft, they
are said to be in a conflict.
When an aircraft passes behind or follows another aircraft, wake turbulence minima are
applied due to the effect of the wingtip vortices of the preceding aircraft on the following
aircraft. These minima vary depending on the relative size of the two aircraft. This is
particularly acute on final approach with a smaller aircraft following larger aircraft.
It is a common misconception that air traffic controllers keep all aircraft separated.
Whether aircraft actually need separating depends upon the class of airspace in which the
aircraft are flying, and the flight rules under which the pilot is operating the aircraft. As
stated by the U.S. FAA, The pilot has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring appropriate
separations and positioning of the aircraft in the terminal area to avoid the wake
turbulence created by a preceding aircraft.
There are three sets of flight rules under which an aircraft can be flown:
For flights en route the vertical position of aircraft shall be expressed in terms of:
flight levels at or above the lowest usable flight level;
Altitudes below the lowest usable flight level.
Determination of the transition level
The appropriate ATS unit shall establish the transition level to be used in the vicinity of
the aerodrome(s) concerned.
The transition level shall be the lowest flight level available for use above the transition
altitude established for the aerodrome(s) concerned. Where a common transition altitude
has been established for two or more aerodromes which are so closely located as to
require coordinated procedures, the appropriate ATS units shall establish a common
transition level to be used at any given time in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
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providing aerodrome control service and units providing approach control service as
follows:
Arriving aircraft: The responsibility for the control of an aircraft approaching to land
shall be transferred from the unit providing approach control service to the unit providing
aerodrome control service when the aircraft:
a) Is in the vicinity of the aerodrome, and
i) it is considered that approach and landing will be completed in visual reference to
the ground,or
ii) it has reached uninterrupted visual meteorological conditions, or
b) has landed, whichever is the earlier.
Departing aircraft: The responsibility for control of a departing aircraft shall be
transferred from the unit providing aerodrome control service to the unit providing
approach control service:
a) when visual meteorological conditions prevail in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
i) prior to the time the aircraft leaves the vicinity of the aerodrome, or
ii) prior to the aircraft entering instrument meteorological conditions, whichever is the
earlier;
b) when instrument meteorological conditions prevail at the aerodrome.
i) immediately before the aircraft enters the runway in- use for take-off, or
ii) immediately after the aircraft is airborne, if local procedures render such action
preferable.
Between a unit providing approach control service and a unit providing area control
service
When area control service and approach control service are not provided by the same air
traffic control unit, responsibility for controlled flights shall rest with the unit providing
area control service except that a unit providing approach control service shall be
responsible for the control of:
a) arriving aircraft that have been released to it by the area control centre;
b) departing aircraft until such aircraft are released to the area control centre.
Under approach sequence conditions the unit providing area control service shall normally
be responsible for clearing aircraft to the holding point, and for including holding
instructions and expected approach time in such clearances. A unit providing approach
control service shall assume control of arriving aircraft, provided such aircraft have been
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released to it, upon arrival of the aircraft at the point agreed for transfer of control, and
shall maintain control during approach to the aerodrome.
The control of more than one approach sequence may be effected by a unit providing
approach control service, provided the division of control between the unit providing area
control service and the unit providing approach control service is defined in instructions
approved by the appropriate ATS authority and is basically consistent with the foregoing
procedures.
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