air traffic controller
Runway clearance authority
An air traffic controller is a person who directs aircraft movement from the ground, coordinating takeoffs, landings, and flight paths to prevent collisions and maintain safe distances between planes.
Controllers work in airport towers and regional centers, communicating with pilots by radio: The air traffic controller cleared us for landing on runway 27.
Radio-wave object detection
- towerTall slender edifice
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- runwayPaved path for planes
- approachWay of handling something
departure · clearance · sector · handoff · taxiway · holding pattern · squawk · transponder
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- readbackVerbal confirmation by repetition
- call signAssigned communication identifier
phraseology · transmission · handoff · squawk · acknowledge
Intermediate navigation targets
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
- headingDirectional course traveled
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- fixesRepairs or solutions
beacons · glideslope · localizer · GPS · FMS · charts · DME · airway
Sustained single-minded attention
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- shift workLabor in timed blocks
fatigue · situational awareness · decision-making · staffing · burnout · mental load · high-pressure · focus
State of keen awareness
- separationState of being apart
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- complianceAdhering to requirements
protocols · collision avoidance · emergency response · near miss · incident report · go-around
radar
Radio-wave object detection
approach · departure · clearance · sector · handoff · taxiway · holding pattern · squawk · transponder · vectoring
radio
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- readbackVerbal confirmation by repetition
call sign · phraseology · transmission · handoff · squawk · acknowledge
waypoints
Intermediate navigation targets
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
- headingDirectional course traveled
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
fixes · beacons · glideslope · localizer · GPS · FMS · charts · DME · airway · flight level
concentration
Sustained single-minded attention
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- alertnessActive mental awareness
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
shift work · fatigue · situational awareness · decision-making · staffing · burnout · mental load · high-pressure · focus · coordination
vigilance
State of keen awareness
- separationState of being apart
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
compliance · protocols · collision avoidance · emergency response · near miss · incident report · go-around
- radar jobs
- airport workerspilot, flight attendant, baggage handler, gate agent, ticket agent
- aviation jobspilot, airline pilot, copilot, co-pilot, captain
- professionsdoctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher, nurse
- public workerscivil servant, firefighter, mail carrier, police officer, social worker
- Air Force Rolesairman, colonel, general, major, lieutenant
air traffic controllerpilot
One who steers aircraft
airline pilot · aviator · flight crew · captain · first officer
control, traffic, airing, controller, controlled, controlling, airless, controls, uncontrolled