United States Army Aviation Center

Fort Rucker, Alabama

AUGUST 2003

STUDENT HANDOUT

TITLE: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

FILE NUMBER: 63-0614-16

PROPONENT FOR THIS LESSON PLAN IS:

Aviation Training Brigade

ATTN: ATZQ-ATB-AD

Fort Rucker, Alabama 36362-5000

FOREIGN DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: This product/publication has been reviewed by the product developers in coordination with the USAAVNC foreign disclosure authority. This product is releasable to students from all requesting foreign countries without restrictions.

NOTES

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE (TLO):

NOTE: Read, or have one of the students read, the TLO requirement.

At the completion of this lesson the student will:

ACTION: Perform assigned missions.

CONDITION: While conducting instrument training/evaluation.

STANDARD: In accordance with (IAW) Federal Aviation Administration Handbook (FAAH) 7110.65, AR 95-1, and DOD FLIP.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: None.

TRAINING RISK ASSESSMENT CODE: Low.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: None.

EVALUATION: After completing the PE, each student will be evaluated on this block of instruction by completing a one (1) hour Criterion Test. The test consists of 20 questions in one (1) scoreable unit. Each student must receive a GO to successfully complete the examination.

A. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE (ELO) #1.

ACTION: Identify the Air Traffic Control facilities.

CONDITION: Without the use of notes.

STANDARD: IAW FAAH 7110.65.

Learning Step/Activity - Provide instruction on Air Traffic Control facilities.

a. Air traffic control facilities.

(1) Definition. ATC is a service provided by an appropriate authority to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

(2) Aviator responsibility. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR 91.123) states that when an ATC clearance/instruction has been obtained, no pilot in command may deviate from that clearance/instruction except in an emergency, unless an amended clearance/instruction is obtained. AR 95-1 requires ARMY aircraft to be operated IAW FAR’s while in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jurisdiction.

b. Responsibilities and services provided by ATC. Separation is the primary responsibility of all ATC agencies. Other services are provided as necessary.

c. ATC facility.

(1) Air route traffic control center (ARTCC).

(a) Responsibility. Control of en route air traffic control service to aircraft operating on IFR flight plans within controlled airspace. Services provided to VFR aircraft based on workload and equipment capabilities.

(b) Area of jurisdiction. This area may cover an area as large or larger than some states. Generally above 10,000' MSL.

(2) Approach control. A terminal ATC facility that provides approach control service in a terminal area.

(a) Requirements to establish. The airport must have an approved instrument approach, direct pilot/controller communications, and letter(s) of agreement (LOA).

(b) Types of control. Radar is predominate today; however, some non-radar control still exists.

(3) Control tower. Provides traffic control service to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the movement area to include ground control.

d. Flight service station (FSS). A supporting agency to ATC (no control of traffic).

(1) Services. Provide pilot briefings, en route communications and VFR search and rescue services, assist lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations, relay ATC clearances, originate Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), broadcast aviation weather and National Airspace System (NAS) information, receive and process IFR flight plans, and monitor NAVAIDS. In addition, at selected locations FSSs provide En Route Flight Advisory Service (Flight Watch), take weather observations, issue airport advisories, and advise Customs and Immigration of transborder flights.

(2) Communications network. Service "B" teletype, tie-in to military base operations, ARTCC, and other FSSs.

B. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE (ELO) #2.

ACTION: State the communication phraseology requirement.

CONDITION: Without the use of notes.

STANDARD: IAW FAAH 7110.65.

Learning Step/Activity - Provide instruction on the communication phraseology requirement.

a. Communication procedures.

(1) Radio message format (2-4-8).

(a) Sector/position on initial radio contact:

1. Identification of aircraft.

2. Identification of ATC unit.

3. Message (if any).

4. The word "over" if required.

(b) Subsequent radio transmissions from same sector/position shall use the same format, except the identification of the ATC unit may be omitted. TERMINAL. You may omit aircraft identification after initial contact when conducting the final portion of a radar approach.

(2) Abbreviated transmissions (2-4-9).

(a) Use identification prefix and last three digits of identification after communications have been established. Example: "Army 345."

(b) Omit facility identification after communication is established.

(c) Transmit message immediately after call up (without waiting for the aircraft’s reply) when the message is short and receipt is generally assured.

(d) Omit "over" if the message obviously required a reply. Example: "ARMY 345 SAY ALTITUDE."

(3) Number usage (2-4-17).

(a) Serial numbers. The separate digits. Example: 11,495 (ONE ONE FOUR NINER FIVE).

(b) Altitude or flight level.

1. Altitudes. Pronounce each digit in the number of hundreds or thousands followed by the word "hundred" or "thousand" as appropriate. Altitudes may be restated in group form for added clarity if the controller chooses. Example: 10,000 (ONE ZERO THOUSAND) and can be followed by (TEN THOUSAND) for clarity.

2. Flight levels. The words "flight level" followed by the separate digits. Example: FL 180 (FLIGHT LEVEL ONE EIGHT ZERO).

1. General. The four separate digits of the hour and minute/s in terms of UTC. Example: 0715 (ZERO SEVEN ONE FIVE).

2. Abbreviated time. The separate digits of the minutes only. Example: 1415 (ONE FIVE) and 1420 (TWO ZERO).

(d) Altimeter setting. The word "altimeter" followed by the separate digits. Example: 30.01 (ALTIMETER, THREE ZERO ZERO ONE).

(e) Surface wind. The word "wind" followed by separate digits of the indicated wind direction to the nearest 10-degree multiple, the word "at" and the separate digits of indicated velocity in knots. Example: "WIND ZERO THREE ZERO AT TWO FIVE."

(f) Heading. The word "heading" followed by the three separate digits of the number, omitting the word "degrees." Use heading 360 to indicate a north heading." Example: "HEADING ZERO ZERO FIVE."

(g) Radar beacon codes. The separate digits of the 4-digit code. Example: "TWO ONE ZERO ZERO."

(h) Runways. The word "runway," followed by the separate digits of the runway designation. Example: "RUNWAY THREE or RUNWAY TWO ONE."

(i) Frequencies. The separate digits of the frequency, inserting the word "point" where the decimal occurs. Example: "ONE TWO SIX POINT FIVE FIVE or THREE SIX NINER POINT ZERO."

NOTE: When the frequency is in the L/MF band, include the word "kiloHertz."

(j) Speeds. The separate digits of the speed followed by "knots" except as required by para 5-7-2. Example: "NINER ZERO KNOTS."

(k) Miles. The separate digits of the mileage followed by the word "mile." Example: "THREE ZERO MILE ARC EAST OF NOTTINGHAM" or "TRAFFIC, ONE O'CLOCK, TWO FIVE MILES, NORTHBOUND, D-C EIGHT, FLIGHT LEVEL TWO SEVEN ZERO."

(4) Facility identification (2-4-19).

(a) Towers. State the name of the facility followed by the word "tower." Example: "CAIRNS TOWER."

(b) ARTCC. State the name of the facility followed by the word "center." Example: "ATLANTA CENTER."

NOTE: Departure control is the same. Example: "CAIRNS DEPARTURE."

(d) FSS. State the name of the station followed by the word "radio." Example: "ANNISTON RADIO."

(5) Route and NAVAID description (2-5-1 thru 2-5-3).

(a) Airways and routes.

1. VOR, VORTAC, and TACAN airways. State the word "Victor" followed by the number of the airway in group form. Example: "VICTOR TWELVE" or "VICTOR FIVE TWENTY-ONE."

2. L/MF airways. State the color of the airway followed by the number in group form. Example: "BLUE EIGHTY-ONE."

(b) NAVAIDS. Describe radials and courses as follows:

1. VOR, VORTAC, and TACAN. State the name of the NAVAID followed by the separate digits of the radial/azimuth/bearing (omit the word "degrees") and the word "radial." Example: "WIREGRASS ZERO TWO ZERO RADIAL."

2. Quadrant within a radius of NAVAID. State direction from NAVAID in terms of the quadrant; e.g., NE, SE, SW, NW, followed by the distance in miles from the NAVAID. Example: "CLEARED TO FLY SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF CAIRNS VOR WITHIN TWO FIVE MILE RADIUS."

3. Nondirectional beacons. State the course to or bearing from the radio beacon, omitting the word "degree," followed by the words "course to" or "bearing from," the name of the radio beacon, and the words "radio beacon." Example: "ONE EIGHT ZERO COURSE TO BOLL WEEVIL RADIO BEACON" or "THREE SIX ZERO BEARING FROM BOLL WEEVIL RADIO BEACON."

b. Number clarification (2-4-18). If deemed necessary for clarity, and after stating numbers as specified, controllers may restate numbers using either group or single-digit form.

C. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE (ELO) #3:

ACTION: State the methods of non-radar separation.

CONDITION: Without the use of notes.

STANDARD: IAW FAAH 7110.65.

Learning Step/Activity - Provide instruction on the methods of non-radar separation.

a. Separation (non-radar)(6-4-1).

(1) Longitudinal (6-4-2). Longitudinal separation is based on the aircraft departing, arriving, holding, or changing altitudes at a fix or a specified time.

(a) Lead aircraft at least 44 knots or more faster than the following aircraft -- 5 miles between DME aircraft or 3 minutes between other aircraft.

(b) Lead aircraft 22 knots to 43 knots faster than the following aircraft -- 10 miles between DME aircraft or 5 minutes between other aircraft.

(c) Lead aircraft same speed or up to 22 knots faster than the following aircraft –- 20 miles between DME aircraft or 10 minutes between other aircraft.

(2) Vertical (6-6-1 and 4-5-1).

(a) FL 290 and below -- 1,000 feet.

(b) Above FL 290 -- 2,000 feet.

(3) Lateral (6-5-1). Separate aircraft by one of the following methods:

(a) Clear aircraft on different airways or routes whose widths or protected airspace do not overlap.

(b) Clear aircraft below 18,000 to proceed to and report over or hold at different geographical locations determined visually or by reference to NAVAID’s.

(c) Clear aircraft to hold over different fixes whose holding pattern airspace areas do not overlap each other or other airspace to be protected.

(d) Clear departing aircraft to fly specified heading which diverge by at least 45 degrees.

b. Non-radar separation must be established prior to transferring control by the radar controller.

D. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE (ELO) #4.

ACTION: State the primary difference between Primary Radar and Secondary Radar.

CONDITION: From memory.

STANDARD: IAW FAAH 7110.65.

Learning Step/Activity - Provide instruction on the difference between primary radar and secondary radar.

a. Primary radar.

(1) Basic principles. The basic principle is based on time required for transmitted electrical pulses moving at the speed of light to reach a target and return. The radar display uses a sweep signal on the radar scope that moves outward from the center at a scaled rate. The echo pulses are amplified and fed to the scope as a blip at the correct scale distance. Azimuth information is provided by rotating the antenna through 360 degrees.

(2) Types and uses.

(a) Air route surveillance radar (ARSR) is used by ARTCC for traffic control. Range is up to 200 NM.

(b) Airport surveillance radar (ASR) is used by approach control and as search radar for ground controlled approach (GCA). Range is from 0 to 30-60 miles.

(3) Limitations.

(a) Transmitted pulses attenuate rapidly (inversely proportional to the square of the distance), limiting the range.

(b) Ground clutter. Ground features also return echoes causing clutter on the scope.

(d) Weather. Areas of precipitation will return echoes making it impossible to discern aircraft targets.

b. Secondary radar.

(1) Basic principle. Secondary radar transmits two closely spaced electronic pulses from a second antenna called an interrogator. A transponder device in the aircraft is set to respond to interrogation pulses with coded pulses of new energy. This increases the range of the equipment and provides for an easily identified target on the scope. Additionally, since only transponder replies are shown on the scope, ground and weather clutter would not appear.

(2) Scope displays.

(a) Raw display. This is the old type which shows a slash for each reply pulse of the code. This type is rapidly becoming obsolete.

(b) Select display. This type display is still widely used and is designed to limit replies to a maximum of two slashes. This equipment provides the controller with a discrete readout by showing a double slash for aircraft replying on a selected code and a single slash for all other transponder equipped aircraft.

NOTE: The newest equipment has a computer input and mode C altitude capability. Students will be briefed on this system on the Cairns ARAC field trip.

c. Emergency procedures.

(1) Emergency--squawk 7700 (5-2-7).

(2) IFR two-way radio failure. Squawk 7600 (5-2-8).

(3) Hijack--squawk 7500 (5-2-13).

d. VFR code. 1200 is code for all aircraft operating VFR, regardless of altitude (5-2-9).

e. Flight plan TD code.

(1) Transponder, no mode C (/T).

(2) Transponder and mode C (/U).

(3) No transponder but has VOR/ADF (/X).

NOTE: Refer to FLIP GP, Chapter 4, for complete TD code chart.

E. ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVE (ELO) #5.

ACTION: State the method of identifying aircraft using radar procedure.

CONDITION: Without the use of notes.

STANDARD: IAW FAAH 7110.65.

Learning Step/Activity - Provide instruction on the method of identifying aircraft using radar procedure.

a. When identifying aircraft controllers are required to establish positive identification and be reasonably sure they can maintain radar identification of aircraft before providing radar service (5-1-1).

b. Identification procedures.

(1) Primary radar (5-3-2). Observing a departing aircraft target within 1 mile of the takeoff runway end at airports with an operating control tower, correlation of position with a fix, or identifying turn or turns of 30 degrees or more.

(2) Secondary radar (5-3-3). Use of the "IDENT" feature, assignment of code change, or having aircraft squawk "standby."

c. Position information (5-3-6). Inform an aircraft of its position whenever radar identification is established by means of identifying turns or by any of the beacon identification methods outlined in para 5-3-3, Beacon Identification Methods. Position information need not be given when identification is established by position correlation or when a departing aircraft is identified within 1 mile of the takeoff runway end.