control tower
Airport nerve center
A control tower is the tall structure at an airport from which air traffic controllers direct the movement of aircraft on the ground and in nearby airspace.
The elevated position provides visibility across runways and taxiways.
The pilot radioed the control tower for clearance to land.
By extension, any central coordination point: Mission control served as the control tower for the space program.
Paved path for planes
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- takeoffDeparture or parody
- landingDescent's final moment
flightpath · ATC · navigation · approach · departure · clearance · taxiway · hangar
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- transmissionSending of information
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- squawkHarsh grating bird cry
- maydayRadio emergency signal
readback · phonetic · relay · broadcast · callsign · roger · advisory · contact
Preventing objects from hitting
- emergency responseOrganized action during crises
- weather alertNotice of atmospheric hazards
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
- incidentA distinct event
go-around · bird strike · deviation · abort · evacuation · firefighting
Vehicle for hire
- windowsGlass-filled wall openings
- observation deckElevated platform for sightseeing
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
- consoleComfort in distress
radar screen · panoramic view · elevated · visibility · vantage point · workstation
Determining element order
- handoffDirect physical exchange
- vectoringDirecting along a path
- traffic flowMovement of vehicles
- schedulingAssigning times to events
conflict resolution · spacing · separation · queue · routing · slot · priority · delay
runway
Paved path for planes
landing · flightpath · ATC · navigation · approach · departure · clearance · taxiway · hangar · airfield
radio
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- transmissionSending of information
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- squawkHarsh grating bird cry
mayday · readback · phonetic · relay · broadcast · callsign · roger · advisory · contact
collision avoidance
Preventing objects from hitting
- emergency responseOrganized action during crises
- weather alertNotice of atmospheric hazards
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
incident · go-around · bird strike · deviation · abort · evacuation · firefighting
cab
Vehicle for hire
- windowsGlass-filled wall openings
- observation deckElevated platform for sightseeing
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
console · radar screen · panoramic view · elevated · visibility · vantage point · workstation
sequencing
Determining element order
- handoffDirect physical exchange
- vectoringDirecting along a path
- traffic flowMovement of vehicles
scheduling · conflict resolution · spacing · separation · queue · routing · slot · priority · delay · diversion
- airportterminal, gate, gates, runway, baggage claim
- airportsairports, airport, terminals, terminal building, runway
- towerswatchtower, monopole, Space Needle, Big Ben, Babel
- airbaserunway, hangar, taxiway, flight line, landing strip
- airfieldsrunway, runways, hangar, hangars, windsock
- airport partsrunway, taxiway, terminal, gate, hangar
control towercockpit
Pilot's control compartment
flight deck · aircraft · airplane · plane · pilot
control towerterminal
At the endpoint
passenger terminal · departure lounge · arrivals hall · baggage claim · hangar
control, tower, towering, controller, controlled, controlling, uncontrollable, controls, uncontrolled