ATC System And NAS Flashcards
AIR TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION
The ATO is the operational arm of the FAA
How many regional offices are there?
9
New England; Eastern; Southern; Great Lakes; Central; Southwest; Alaskan; Northwest Mountain; Western-Pacific
Who does the ATO report to in order to ensure the safety, efficiency, and security of air traffic operations?
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
ARTCC
Air Route Traffic Control Centers
ATCT
Federal Airport Traffic Control Towers
TRACON
Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities
ATCSCC
Air Traffic Control System Command Center
CERAP
Combined Center Radar Approach Control Facility
How many ATS Service Areas are there?
3
Eastern; Central; Western
What are the ATO service areas?
Eastern; Western; and Central
The safe, secure, and efficient management for the NAS is the responsibility of which division?
Air traffic services
The ATO is managed by a ____?
Chief operating officer 
The primary focus of the air traffic control (ATC) system (3)
-Prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system
-Provide a safe orderly and expeditious flow of traffic
-Provide support for national security and homeland defense 
First priority is given to…
Separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts 
Automated Procedures
Used in preference to non-automation procedures when work load, communications and equipment capabilities, permit
Radar Separation
used in preference to non-radar separation when it will be to an operational advantage and work load, communications, and equipment permit
Non-radar Separation
Used in preference to radar separation when an operational advantage will be gained 
ATC service is provided to aircraft on a “ first come first served“ basis, as circumstances permit, EXCEPT.…
A. Aircraft in distress
-have the right of way over all other traffic
B. Civilian air ambulance flights (call sign “MEDEVAC“)
-Priority is also provided to military air evacuation flights (call sign “AIR EVAC”) and scheduled air carrier/air taxi flights, when verbally requested
C. Presidential aircraft
D. Search and rescue (SAR) aircraft performing a SAR mission.
E. Special military and civilian operations.
F. Flight check aircraft.
G. Instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft over special visual flight rules (SVFR) aircraft.
H. Diverted flights. 
What is the first duty priority of the ATC system?
Separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts
What are the primary purposes of the ATC system?
-Provide a safe orderly and expeditious flow of traffic
-Provide support for national security in Homeland offense
-Prevents a collision between aircraft operating in the system
When should non-radar separation be used?
When an operational advantage exists
True or false: radar separation is used in preference to non-radar separation when it will be to an operational advantage and work load, communications and equipment permit
True
True or false: radar separation is used in preference to non-radar separation at all times
False
True or false: automation procedures are used in preference to non-automation procedures when work load, communications and equipment, capabilities, permit
True
What are three types of ATC facilities?
Flight service station, FSS
Terminal ATC facilities, ATCT & TRACON
Air route traffic control Center, ARTCC
What factors determine a facilities classification level?
Traffic volume, fleet mix, proximity to airports, class of air space, terrain, number of runways, runway configuration 
Who assumes the operational responsibilities for the operational supervisor position when a supervisor is unavailable?
Controller in charge (CIC)
Who has no direct control authority over IFR or VF our traffic?
Flight service stations FSS 
What services do the FSS provide to all air traffic? 
Pilot briefings
Flight plan processing
En route flight advisories
Search and rescue services SAR
Assistance to lost aircraft
Assistance to aircraft and emergency situation
Relay ATC clearances
Process notices to air missions and NOTAMs
Broadcast aviation, weather, and aeronautical information
Advises customs and border protection of trans border flights
Alaska only: take weather observations and provide airport advisory service AAS 
What are the four basic positions in an FSS?
Flight data
Broadcast
Preflight
Inflight 
What are the primary functions of an FSS?
Provide pilot briefings
Receive flight plans
Process flight plans
Briefs pilots on weather, NOTAMs, and restrictions along proposed route; applies VFR not recommended procedures 
Preflight
Records and disseminates weather and flight information through the AFIS
Broadcast
Issues airport, advisories; relays, ATC, clearances, advisories, or request to pilots; monitors and restores, NAVAIDs; activates and closes flight plans; assist pilots of lost aircraft 
Inflight
Disseminates, IFRNVFR flight plans, initiates, SAR, disseminates NOTAMs, performs custom notification 
Flight Data/NOTAM Coordinator
What are the two types of terminal facilities?
ATCTs (Towers)
TRACONs
What are the six positions in the tower? 
Flight data
Clearance delivery
Ground control
Local control
Common duties
Tower coordinator
Tower associate 
What are the functions of an ATCT? 
Authorizing aircraft to land, or take off on the runway
Providing ATC services to aircraft at an airport
Transitioning aircraft through tower control
May provide approach control services to aircraft 
Performs interfacility/intrafacility coordination, advises the tower positions of actions required to accomplish objectives
Tower coordinator 
Initiates control instructions, has responsibility for control of active runways, ensures separation 
Local Control
Assess the tower positions by performing coordination and helps to ensure separation by maintaining awareness of tower traffic
Tower associate
Compile statistical data, processes and forwards flight plan information, reports weather information
Flight Data
