This is the place where the pilot's talk about their flying experiences, their planes, other peoples planes, other pilots and generally just "shoot the breeze." There's always a coffee pot - please grab a cup and join in.
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One of the topics in the hangar today is Air Traffic Control. The flying public probably doesn't give much thought to these "heroes" who are guiding the pilot from taxi, to take-off, through the flight, and to landing - but the air traffic controllers ensure the safety of about two million people per day/a billion people per year in this country alone. Their skills and judgement safely direct more than 60 million aircraft a year! There is no margin for mistakes! These 15,000 "heroes" serve us as follows:
- TOWER CONTROLLERS - These are the one who work in the glassed-in control towers. They control traffic from the airport to a radius of 3 to 30 miles out. They give taxi, and take-off instructions, air traffic clearance, and general airport operation advice. They provide separation for landing and departing aircraft; transfer control of aircraft to other traffic centers when the aircraft leave their airspace; and they receive control of aircraft on flights coming into their airspace.
- ENROUTE CENTER CONTROLLERS - You will never see these controllers, they work in a location away from the airport in 24 centers across the country. They usually control traffic at or above 17,000 ft. If your a little plane flying at low altitudes you can request they monitor your flight - they let you know of any traffic in your area, any weather hazards ahead - a comforting feeling to know that the center controllers are kind of like your "back-seat pilot." These controllers use radar or manual procedures to keep track of thousands of planes in the sky at any one time. Each center has responsibility for more than 100,000 square miles of airspace, extending over a number of states.
- TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH CONTROLLERS - They work in radar rooms, usually in airport towers. Normally control traffic below 17,000 ft. They have some of the same responsibilities as the tower controllers - and are located in busy, heavy traffic airports.
