Education Technology

Overview: Many people believe that communications, navigation, surveillance, and automation technologies are the elements of the complete ATC system when, in fact, they are simply the enabling technologies that allow the air traffic control function to perform efficiently and safely. In reality, air traffic control is the process by which many thousands of aircraft are provided separation services as they climb, descend, and cross paths and altitudes as they travel from any one of thousands of departure airports to any one of thousands of destination airports daily. Air traffic controllers in various ATC facilities are responsible for specific airspace volumes and may be providing those ATC separation services to up to 20 - 25 aircraft at any moment in time. Core ATC concepts, procedures, and techniques have evolved to enable human air traffic controllers to safely manage that level of air traffic density and volume.