Editing Air traffic control (section)

{{Short description|Service to direct pilots of aircraft}}
{{Redirect|Air traffic|the Canadian band|Air Traffic Control (band)|the Owl City song|Maybe I'm Dreaming}}
{{About|civilian direction of aircraft|other types of aircraft control|Air control (disambiguation){{!}}Air control}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2025}}<!--this is a global service, first developed in the UK-->
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
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{{Original research|date=April 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2019}}
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[[File:New-MIAL-ATC-Tower.jpg|thumb|upright|The air traffic control tower of [[Mumbai International Airport]] in India]]

'''Air traffic control''' ('''ATC''') is a service provided by ground-based [[air traffic controller]]s who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled [[airspace]], and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC is to prevent collisions, organise and expedite the flow of traffic in the air, and provide information and other support for pilots.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/ATC/atc0201.html |title=FAA 7110.65 2-1-1 |website=FAA.gov |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Authority]] |date=n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607105632/http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/ATC/atc0201.html |archive-date=7 June 2010 }}</ref>

Personnel of air traffic control monitor aircraft location in their assigned airspace by [[radar]] and communicate with the [[pilot]]s by [[radio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Air Traffic Control Works |url=https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Guide-to-aviation/How-air-traffic-control-works/ |website=CAA.co.uk |publisher=[[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|UK Civil Aviation Authority]] |date=n.d. |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226104734/https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Guide-to-aviation/How-air-traffic-control-works/ }}</ref> To prevent collisions, ATC enforces [[Separation (air traffic control)|traffic separation]] rules, which ensure each aircraft maintains a minimum amount of 'empty space' around it at all times. It is also common for ATC to provide services to all [[General aviation|private]], [[Military aviation|military]], and commercial aircraft operating within its airspace; not just civilian aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Traffic Organization |url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250205013527/https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato |archive-date=5 February 2025 |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=FAA.gov |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration }}</ref> Depending on the type of flight and the class of airspace, ATC may issue ''instructions'' that pilots are required to obey, or ''advisories'' (known as ''flight information'' in some countries) that pilots may, at their discretion, disregard. The [[pilot in command]] of an aircraft always retains final authority for its safe operation, and may, in an emergency, deviate from ATC instructions to the extent required to maintain safe operation of the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) |url=https://www.ecfr.gov |website=ECFR.gov |publisher=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) |date=n.d. |access-date=21 January 2021 }}</ref>