Editing Air traffic controller (section)

== Roles ==

===Area controllers===
Area controllers (also called "en route" or in the US "center controllers") oversee aircraft at higher altitudes, in the en-route phase of their flight surrounding busier airports and airspace. In contrast to tower controllers, their job is dominated by the discovery of conflicts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Area Controller {{!}} SKYbrary Aviation Safety |url=https://skybrary.aero/articles/area-controller |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=skybrary.aero}}</ref> Area controllers may also handle aircraft at lower altitudes as well as air traffic around small airports that do not have their own towers or approach controllers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=APPENDIX E NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM |url=https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/860/Airport-Master-Plan-Update-Appendix-E-National-Air-Traffic-Control-System-PDF |access-date=19 Feb 2025 |website=Jeffco.us}}</ref> Area controllers are responsible for specific sectors of 3D blocks of airspace with defined dimensions. Each sector is managed by at least one area controller, known as an "R-side" (Radar) controller that handles radio communications. During busier times of traffic, there may also be a second area controller, known as a "D-side" (Data), assigned to the same area in order to assist the R-side Area controller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Know Your Pros - Center Air Traffic Controllers (Part 1) |url=https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/2014/01/air-route-traffic-control-centers/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=boldmethod.com}}</ref> This can be done with or without the use of radar: radar allows a sector to handle much more traffic; however, [[procedural control]] is used in many areas where traffic levels do not justify radar or the installation of radar is not feasible, such as over oceans.

Area controllers operate within [[area control center]]s, also known as centers or en-route centers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RaiseMe |title=En route controllers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more - RaiseMe |url=https://www.raise.me/careers/transportation-and-material-moving/air-traffic-controllers/en-route-controllers/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=raise.me |language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=EUROCONTROL |title=Become an air traffic controller |url=https://atco.eurocontrol.int/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Recruitment of student Air Traffic Controllers}}</ref> where they are controlling high-level en-route aircraft. In the United States, these facilities are specifically referred to as Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) {{!}} SKYbrary Aviation Safety |url=https://skybrary.aero/articles/air-route-traffic-control-center-artcc |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=skybrary.aero}}</ref> Area controllers can also work in [[terminal control center]]s, which control aircraft climbing from or descending to major groups of airports.

=== Aerodrome or tower ===
[[File:Control tower at Birmingham Airport, England 27June2019 arp.jpg|thumb|Controllers often work from a control tower like this one at [[Birmingham Airport]], England]]Aerodrome or Tower controllers control aircraft within the immediate vicinity of the airport and use visual observation from the airport tower. The tower's airspace is often a {{convert|5|nmi|km|adj=on}} radius around the airport, but can vary greatly in size and shape depending on traffic configuration and volume.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title=What is an airport control tower really for? |url=https://worldaviationato.com/en/airport-control-tower/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=World Aviation ATO |language=en}}</ref>

The tower positions are typically split into many different positions such as Flight Data/Clearance Delivery, Ground Control, and Local Control (known as Tower by the pilots); at busier facilities, a limited radar approach control position may be needed.<ref name=":4" />

The roles of the positions are:<ref name=":4" />
* Flight Data/Clearance Delivery: Issues [[Instrument flight rules|IFR]] flight plan clearances, obtains squawk codes for [[Visual flight rules|VFR]] aircraft, helps with coordination for GC/LC, and cuts the [[Automatic terminal information service|ATIS]] (weather). FD/CD is commonly known in the profession as the secretary of the tower.
* Ground: Issues [[Taxiing|taxi]] instructions and authorizes aircraft/vehicle movements on the airport except the active runway(s); controllers are not responsible for aircraft movement on ramps or other designated non-movement areas.
* Local (Tower): Issues takeoff and landing instructions/clearances and authorizes aircraft/vehicle movements on or across runways.
* Approach: Issues instructions to aircraft who are intending to land at the airport. This involves vectoring aircraft in a safe, orderly, and expeditious manner and, if needed, stacking the aircraft at different holding altitudes.

===Civilian/military===
[[File:US Navy 060505-N-9079D-025 Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class David McKeehe works approach controller in Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATTC).jpg|thumb|right|A military air traffic controller at approach control on the {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} (CVN-72).|219x219px]]
Civilian ATCs handle commercial and general aviation such as [[airliner]]s and [[Business jet|private jets]] while military controllers usually oversee airspace or airports of armed forces. Some civilian airports are part of military airports and therefore serviced by military controllers also known as [[Joint-use airport|joint-use]].<ref name="j099">{{cite web |title=Joint Civilian/Military (Joint-Use) Airports |website=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |date=2 Aug 2022 |url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/joint_use_airports |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref> In some countries all air traffic controlling is handled by the military and all controllers are soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 September 2008 |title=Air traffic control still causing disruption in Brazil |url=http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/air-traffic-control-still-causing-disruption-in-brazil-3687 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213224315/http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/air-traffic-control-still-causing-disruption-in-brazil-3687 |archive-date=13 December 2014 |access-date=13 December 2014 |publisher=Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) |quote=Besides Brazil, the only nations in which the military retains complete control of civilian traffic are Paraguay and Uganda.}}</ref>[[File:Civilian air traffic controllers, Memphis.jpg|thumb|right|Civilian air traffic controllers, [[Memphis International Airport]], 1962|217x217px]]

=== Public/private ===
Historically, controllers were civil servants in most countries. While many countries still have public ATC services countries like Canada already have implemented mixed or fully privatized models <ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada's experience with ATC privatization |url=https://www.cba.org/Sections/Air-and-Space-Law/Articles/ATC-privatization |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=cba.org |language=en}}</ref> Globally, the trend toward privatization varies. While some countries have fully privatized their ATC services, others maintain public control or adopt hybrid models.<ref name="l721">{{cite web |last=Scribner |first=Marc |date=May 2023 |title=ANNUAL PRIVATIZATION REPORT: AVIATION |url=https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/annual-privatization-report-2023-aviation.pdf |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref>