Airmanship 2.
Air Traffic Control: Place where all movements of aircraft both on the ground and in the air are monitored and controlled. Air Traffic Control is sometimes shortened to the acronym ATC. ATC controllers and staff operate from the control tower and communicate via radio telephony (RT for short). Other controllers are situated in centres away from the tower these are called Air Traffic Control Centres (ATCC). And additional controllers may be found in Air Traffic Control Radar Units (ATCRU).
Control Tower: These buildings are very easy to spot and are always in visual contact with the airfield.
Aerodrome Controller: Works in the glass walled room at the top of the control tower. From there he may supervise the movements of all of the traffic in the immediate vicinity of the airfield (the circuit is included in this area).
Approach Controller: He controls the aircraft departing from the airfield circuit and assists with instructing during instrument approaches. He does not need to be in the top of the tower as the aircraft that require his services will not usually be able to see the airfield anyway.
Runway Controller: At busier airfields a runway controller may be required. He works from a caravan positioned close to the touchdown end of the runway in use (just to the left) and has 4 main jobs:
1. Prevent aircraft from landing gear up by warning them through the firing of a red flare.
2. Stop aircraft from taking off with obvious problems (e.g. fuel leak/door unlocked)
3. Warn vehicles and aircraft on the ground to move clear of the landing area by using red flashes of the signalling lamp.
4. Give permission to take off with a steady green light.
Communications: These are conducted through the efficient use of special telephones and tele-talk systems. Ground to air communications are conducted by radio (RT).
Telephone: The tower will usually have it’s own switchboard so that it can make calls through...