The Control Tower

 

A. Dialogue

 

Instructor: Student: Instructor: Student: Instructor: Student: Instructor: Student: Instructor: Pilot 1: Controller: Pilot 1: Controller: Pilot 2: Controller: Pilot 1: Controller: Pilot 3: Controller: Pilot 2: Controller: Pilot 3: Controller: Pilot 3: Controller: Pilot 1: Controller:

Each aircraft contacts the controller at the control tower for clearance to take off. The aircraft stays on that radio frequency until after takeoff. Then the tower controller directs the aircraft to contact departure control. Is the procedure similar for a landing aircraft? During the landing, an aircraft is directed to contact the tower controller from approach control and stays with that person until the aircraft has cleared the landing runway. After that, the aircraft contacts ground control. That seems simple, but the controller's job must be very difficult. That's right. Many planes can be landing and taking off at the same time. The control tower is responsible for providing safe aircraft separation. I see. Here's another factor the tower controller must consider. A jet weighing more than 300,000 pounds is designated as a heavy aircraft. Smaller planes flying behind a heavy aircraft should maintain a particular distance to avoid encountering dangerous wake turbulence. Oh, I wasn't aware of that. The tower controller also works with departure and approach control and the air route traffic control center (ARTCC). These ATC services control departing and en-route traffic and determine when an aircraft can be accepted into the air traffic system. Let's listen to this transmission between a controller and several aircraft.   ***   La Guardia Tower, Boeing 295 ready for takeoff. Boeing 295, this is La Guardia Tower. You are number two for departure behind Lockheed 114 heavy. Boeing 295, roger. Lockheed 114 heavy, Runway 13 cleared for takeoff. Lockheed 114 heavy, cleared for takeoff on Runway 13. We're rolling. Boeing 295, caution wake turbulence from departing heavy jet. Taxi into position and hold on Runway 13. There's landing traffic on Runway 22. Position and hold on Runway 13, Boeing 295. Commuter 486 on approach to Runway 22, prepare for a go-around, previous landing traffic still on the runway. Commuter 486, roger. Lockheed 114 heavy, contact departure control, good day. Departure for Lockheed 114 heavy, good day. Commuter 486, traffic has cleared Runway 22. You are cleared to land. Commuter 486, cleared to land on Runway 22. And Commuter 486, no need to acknowledge, wind 250 degrees at Runway 22. Commuter 486, turn right on Taxiway Bravo, contact ground control on frequency 121.6 when you clear the active runway. Commuter 486, roger. Boeing 295, Runway 13 cleared for takeoff. Boeing 295, rolling on Runway 13. Boeing 295, contact departure control, good day.

 

 

B. Terminology Practice

 

acknowledge:to transmit a message indicating that a communication has been received and understood

Did the aircraft acknowledge your transmission?

There's no need to acknowledge this report.

Please acknowledge this transmission by turning on your landing lights.

Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC):an ATC facility that provides en-route traffic separation to IFR aircraft operating in controlled airspace

Have you contacted ARTCC yet?

Contact New York ARTCC on frequency 134.6.

The ARTCC is responsible for large areas of airspace.

approach:the part of a flight just preceding the landing

That flight is on approach to Runway 14.

What time will we begin our approach?

How many go-arounds did you make on your approach?

approach control:an ATC service for aircraft arriving or operating within the vicinity of an airport

Approach control directs a pilot to contact the controller when the plane has landed.

Approach control has cleared us for that procedure.

How does approach control use radar?

clear:in this sense, to free from obstruction

Contact ground control when you've cleared the active runway.

The runway isn't clear for takeoff.

When will the taxiway be clear?

clear:in this sense, to give approval for a particular action

Has the flight been cleared for takeoff?

You're cleared to land on Runway 18.

I'll ask the controller to clear us for landing.

controller:a person who is responsible for controlling air traffic

Only two controllers are on duty at night.

What qualifications do you need to become a tower controller?

The controller requested that we hold our position.

departure control:an ATC service for aircraft departing from an airport

Please contact departure control.

Did you contact departure control after takeoff?

Departure control requested we turn left to heading 130 degrees.

go-around:the act of an aircraft going around

There is an aircraft on the runway; prepare for a go-around.

Jet 579, prepare to go-around.

How many go-arounds did you make on your approach?

heavy jet:an aircraft with a gross weight of 300,000 pounds or more

Are we flying behind a heavy jet?

A Boeing 747 is a heavy jet.

There's dangerous wake turbulence behind a heavy jet.

hold:to keep an aircraft in a specific location

Taxi into position and hold on Runway 12.

Did ATC issue instructions to hold on the runway?

We'll hold at this position until we're cleared for takeoff.

roger:a term used to indicate that the previous radio transmission was received

The term roger shouldn't be used to respond to a question requiring a negative or affirmative answer.

When should a pilot respond by saying "roger"?

To acknowledge a transmission, the pilot identifies his flight and then says "roger."

separation:the spacing of aircraft, intended to achieve safe and orderly movement

ATC is responsible for safe air traffic separation.

Is there adequate separation between our aircraft and the heavy jet?

We must maintain a separation of at least five miles behind the heavy jet.

transmission:radio signals that are passed between sending and receiving stations

Transmissions should be as short as possible.

Did you hear our transmission?

We didn't receive your latest transmission.

wake turbulence:air turbulence generated from the wing tips of an aircraft during flight

It is necessary to maintain a particular distance from a heavy jet in order to avoid wake turbulence.

Is wake turbulence very dangerous?

We had to wait three minutes before takeoff in order to avoid wake turbulence.

 

C. Check-Up

 

Fill in the blanks with the proper terms from the list.

approach approach control ARTCC clear controller

departure control heavy jet hold roger wake turbulence

 

1. An aircraft that weighs more than 300,000 pounds is a ___________.

2. ___________ is responsible for planes arriving or operating in the vicinity of an airport.

3. A plane flying behind a heavy jet has to avoid ___________.

4. The ___________ is the part of the flight preceding landing.

5. When pilots want to indicate that transmissions have been received, they say "___________".

6. The person who coordinates air traffic is the ___________.

7. ___________ provides en-route traffic separation to aircraft operating in controlled airspace.

8. When ATC wants an aircraft to stay at a certain position, the aircraft is instructed to ___________.

9. ___________ provides service for departing aircraft.

10. When a runway is ___________, it is free from obstruction.