II. Change the explanations with the suitable words from the active vocabulary.

1. to take responsibility

2. broken separation

3. to provide safety

4. to appoint to a position

5. to notice

6. position

7. to invent

8. to change

9. to work with

10. to have smth, to use smth

 

III. Recollect the synonyms.

· To ensure the safety

· To meet demands

· Advantages

· Disadvantages

· Advanced

· To advise

· To be responsible for

· To bear responsibility

· To follow the rules

· To notice

· To solve the problem

· To have obligation

· To follow the rules

· To assess the situation

· To notice

· To solve the problem

· To have obligation

 

VI. Answer the following questions using underlined words in the answers.

1. What is ATC in charge of?

2. What sectors of control can we distinguish?

3. What other services does ATC collaborate with?

4. What devices is your operational roomequipped with?

5. What kind of weather information does ATC have at his disposal?

6. What are the benefits in controller’s job?

7. What are the drawbacks in controller’s job?

8. What psychological requirements should ATC meet?

9. What should ATC take into account to prevent separation infringement?

10. What / Who affected your decision of choosing this profession?

 

VII. Read the text and discuss it.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

ATC service is an inalienable part of air traffic. It provides the users with complete range of air navigation services. Controllers bear responsibility for providing flights safety during servicing air traffic. They are in charge of:

§ listening to operational frequency of their sector and keeping radio communication with the traffic

§ listening to emergency frequency

§ identification of the traffic

§ preventing collisions between the aircraft

§ coordinating planes movements- assigning them speed, heading, flight path, flight conditions in holding pattern etc.

§ keeping the aircraft safely separated from each other on all phases of the flight, taking into account air space classification, flight rules according to which flight is performed and type of the aircraft

§ accepting and handover the aircraft from/to adjacent sector

§ relaying controller’s instructions, clearances and recommendations to the pilots concerning safety of flights

§ controlling of pilots’ flight plans following

§ supplying the crew with meteorological information if they are in need

§ analyzing, revealing and solving conflict situations with the aim of preventing minimum separation infringement

§ assisting the crews in emergency situations

Thus, the controllers assume responsibility for the lives of all people who are in the air in their areas.

Depending on the area where controller works we distinguish different types of controllers:

Ground controllers

They

- give clearances to start-up, run-up engines

-issue taxiing direction

-inform pilots about TW and RW conditions, current works and meteorological conditions at the airport

-designate a parking stand number for arriving aircraft

-guide pilots in parking area, give clearance for holding position before take off

-provide safe moving of the aircraft in maneuvering area

Tower controllers

They 

- clear the crew for occupying the RW

- monitor RW occupying, crossing and vacating by ground personnel

- designate RW number for landing and take off

- issue clearance for take off and landing

- instruct pilots as for initial climb

- inform pilots about RW conditions, birds activity and meteorological conditions at the airport

-provide safe separation between departing and arriving aircraft

- inform airport services about readiness and emergency/alarm signal

 

Approach controllers

They

- monitor and control air traffic in the area restricted by altitudes peculiar for each airport

-issue instructions to aircraft who are intending to land at the airport

 (This involves vectoring aircraft in a safe, orderly, and expeditious manner and, if needed, stacking the aircraft at different holding altitudes)

- prioritize sequence of approach for landing

- provide necessary separation between the aircraft

 

ACCs

They

- provide safe passage of traffic on high flight levels

- constantly monitor air space situation on the screen

- coordinate planes movements assigning them FLs, routes, speed, heading

- warn crews about possible conflict situations

- advise avoiding actions due to another traffic or weather conditions

- offer weather information if required

ATC’s facilities

Some years ago all control centers in Ukraine were equipped with automated system which substituted a lot of controller’s functions. On these monitors ATC can observe aircraft plot, its call sign, its heading, and speed and flight level. It eliminates necessity to keep this information in mind. This system provides controllers with such information as flight plans, delays, flight plans’ conflict, and weather conditions at the airports. There are two warning functions of this system: function of prediction which helps controller to maintain necessary separation between the planes and warns ATC in case of infringement of this separation 120 seconds in advance; function of violation which goes off in case of violation of minimum separation.

Thus, state-of-art advanced and sophisticated equipment which is at controllers disposal is aimed to enhance the safety in the air and on the ground.

 

Pre-shift preparation

ATCs work in shift pattern. Each controller’s shift is proceeded by pre-shift briefing where meteorologists notify the team about weather conditions for different sectors of control, issue SIGMET, and inform about met conditions at own airport and the nearest airports.

Then military officers take the floor. They remind about prohibited areas, advise about restricted areas, state flights, training military flights. For low arrears they note explosive works and applications of small-engine aviation. Following it a technician reports on technical condition of the operative system, on any changes and malfunctions.

  Then supervisor of lower area informs the audience about RW, apron, TW, stand conditions, gives instructions to his team and assigns controllers to different sector positions. Then upper area supervisor takes the word and also informs the team about work loading in his sector, states if there are any traffic congestions and gives instructions to his team and it is for him to assign controllers to their positions in sectors.

ATC’s career

The career in air traffic control service starts with operational controller who may have ratings for different control sectors. Then career is predetermined by experience and level of proficiency. If gained knowledge and skills allow operational controller may become a senior controller or a supervisor.

If controller has a calling for this profession and he is good at documents, regulations and recommendations he may obtain the designation of Simulator Training Instructor.

 

Supervisor

Supervisor bears responsibility for all controllers in his team, for their actions, so he has to be an excellent psychologist to select members for his team as he has to be sure in them as in himself. He has to be familiar with all leading documents, to be highly experienced as an operational controller.

The Supervisor is responsible for

- his team controllers to ensure safety in their sector of control

- coordinating the work with aviation authorities and other services

- monitoring controller’s actions in case of emergency

- following all necessary working documents

- organizing professional training for his controllers and checking their knowledge

- undertaking preventive measures in case of appearance of complicated situations