2.2 How Air Traffic Controllers Operate

Exercise 2.2.1 Read and translate the text.

Air traffic controllers are responsible for keeping aircraft safely separated from each other. They maintain contact with the aircraft crews through the VHF radio telephone (R/T) service - a vital link in the overall air traffic service. The control of aircraft movements is achieved largely through radar surveillance.

Before an aircraft arrives in a controller’s airspace he is provided with details of the intended flight, including route, altitude, speed and call sign. After taking into account the requirements of another traffic in the sector airspace at that time - or in the future -the controller plans a safe flight level and route for the aircraft and monitors its progress through the sector.

It is a fundamental principle that no aircraft is cleared to enter the airspace of another sector until its entry has been coordinated with an adjacent air traffic control unit. This applies also to the handover of aircraft between national air traffic control and air traffic control services of adjacent countries.

To fly in controlled airspace aircraft must be equipped to a certain standard and their pilots must hold the necessary qualifications. Pilots must obtain a clearance from Air Traffic Control to enter such airspace and, except in an emergency, they must follow ATC instructions implicitly.

In controlled airspace each aircraft must be kept separate from all others by internationally agreed standards. This is done by allocating different heights or by arranging certain minimum horizontal distances between aircraft. These distances vary according to circumstances; for example, two aircraft operating under radar control may not come within five nautical miles of each other at the same height. If two aircraft are less than five nautical miles apart horizontally, they must be vertically separated by a minimum of 1000 ft - or 2000 ft if the aircraft is flying above 29,000 ft.

The responsibilities of an air traffic controller are very high because lives of people depend on his actions. The mistake of a controller may cost very much.

The air traffic controller is responsible for:

a) preventing collisions between aircraft in the air;

b) preventing collisions between aircraft and other obstacles on the ground;

c) maintaining expeditious and orderly flow of air traffic.

The air traffic controller keeps the situation in his sector under constant control. He gives clearances for air traffic, warn pilots about conflicting aircraft. He also informs them about weather conditions, thunderstorm activity, cumulus, visibility and advises avoiding actions. In case of emergency the controller should act quickly and surely and find the only right decision. If necessary he must pass the information to the alerting service.

The controller is also responsible for handover the traffic to adjacent sectors in time. A supervisor is responsible for the work of all controllers subordinate to him.

Exercise 2.2.2 Answer the questions.

1. What are air traffic controllers responsible for?

2. How do ATC controllers maintain contract with the aircraft crews?

3. How is the control of aircraft achieved?

4. What information is an aircraft in a controller’s airspace provided with?

5. What is a fundamental principle?

6. Why does a pilot have to obtain clearance from ATC to enter the airspace?

7. How are aircraft in controlled airspace separated from each other?

8. Why are the responsibilities of an ATC controller very high?

9. What is an ATC controller responsible for?

10. Why does a controller have to keep the situation in his sector under constant control?

11. What information does a controller inform a pilot?

12. What is a supervisor responsible for?

Exercise 2.2.3 What do the following abbreviations stand for.

VHF; R/ T; ATC; ft.

Exercise 2.2.4 Write T if the sentence is true and F if the sentence is false.

1. Air traffic controllers are responsible for keeping safely separated from each other.

2. Maintaining contact with the aircraft crews is a vital link in the overall air traffic service.

3. The control of aircraft movements is achieved largely through the VHF radio telephone service.

4. It is not necessary to provide an aircraft with details about the flight, route, altitude, speed and other information before it arrives in a controller’s airspace.

5. A controller plans a safe flight level and route for an aircraft and monitors its progress through the sector.

6. A pilot doesn’t have to obtain clearance from ATC to enter the airspace.

7. In case of emergency a pilot must follow ATC instructions implicitly.

8. The responsibilities of an air traffic controller are very high.

9. A controller’s mistake may cost very much.

10. An ATC controller always keeps the situation in his sector under constant control.

11. It is always very difficult to find the only right decision.

12. A supervisor is not responsible for the work of all controllers subordinate to him.

Exercise 2.2.5 Give the English equivalents for the following.

Быть ответственным за; отделять друг от друга; поддерживать связь (контакт); радио/ телефонная связь; достигать; обзорный радиолокатор; контролируемое воздушное пространство; маршрут полета; скорость и высота самолета; позывной воздушного судна; принимать во внимание; требования; в будущем; безопасный эшелон полета; входить в воздушное пространство другого сектора; скоординировать действия со смежным органом УВД; иметь необходимую квалификацию; получить разрешение от органа УВД; в случаи аварийной ситуации; безоговорочно следовать указаниям диспетчера; в соответствии с обстоятельствами; например; в пределах; на одной и той же высоте; жизни людей зависят от действий диспетчера; ошибка диспетчера может дорого стоить; держать ситуацию под постоянным контролем; предотвратить столкновение между самолетами; предупреждать пилотов о; погодные условия; грозовая деятельность; в случаи аварийной ситуации; действовать быстро и уверенно; найти единственное правильное решение; если необходимо; служба аварийного оповещения; вовремя; руководитель полетов; подчиненный.

Exercise 2.2.6 Find in the text synonyms for the following words and word combinations.

To establish communication; divided; via; key link; aircraft activities; to be supplied with; contain (involve); to record the process; a basic (essential, key) principal; to be allowed (permitted); area (zone); to organize (arrange); contiguous (bordering, neighbouring) unit; settled standards; to get (receive) clearance; to join the airspace; to comply with (execute) instructions; every plane; intervals; to stop; crash; to control (watch, guard) the situation; under steady (firm; fixed) control; to notify (alert, inform) pilots; if compulsory (obligatory); dependent (subject); the job (business).

Exercise 2.2.7 State what part of speech the following words belong to.

1. subordinate

a) adverb b) noun c) adjective d) verb

2. between

a) noun b) article c) conjunction d) preposition

3. emergency

a) adjective b) noun c) pronoun d) numeral

4. adjacent

a) adverb b) adjective c) verb d) pronoun

5. also

a) pronoun b) adverb c) pronoun d) noun

Exercise 2.2.8 Match the words and word combinations in column A with those in column B.

a)

A	B
1. to be responsible for	a. предупредить столкновение
2. surveillance radar	b. получить разрешение
3. to take into account	c. под постоянным контролем
4. to enter the airspace	d. в соответствии с обстоятельствами
5. ATC unit	e. быть ответственным за …
6. to obtain clearance	f. принять во внимание
7. according to circumstances	g. орган УВД
8. nautical collision	h. обзорный радиолокатор
9. to prevent collision	i. войти в воздушное пространство
10. under constant control	j. морские мили

b)

A	B
1. weather conditions	a. смежный сектор
2. thunderstorm activity	b. предупреждать
3. right decision	c. условия погоды
4. alerting service	d. в случае аварийной ситуации
5. adjacent sector	e. быть оснащенным
6. to follow the instructions	f. служба аварийного оповещения
7. in case of emergency	g. правильное, верное решение
8. to depend on …	h. грозовая деятельность
9. to warn	i. выполнять указания
10. to be equipped	j. зависеть от …

Exercise 2.2.9 Fill in the gaps with the words from the text choosing from the ones given in brackets.

1. ATC controllers maintain ____________ (connection, communication, contract) with the aircraft crews.

2. Radio telephone service is a ___________ (key, essential, vital) link in the overall air traffic service.

3. The control of aircraft (actions, progress, movements) is achieved ____________ (mainly, largely, chiefly) through radar surveillance.

4. An ATC controller ______________ (checks, watches, monitors) the progress of an aircraft through the sector.

5. There are a lot of _______________ (basic, essential, fundamental) principles while controlling the aircraft.

6. The controllers’ actions have to be _____________ (arranged, organized, coordinated) with the ______________ (contiguous, bordering, adjacent) air traffic units.

7. Pilots must _____________ (get, obtain, receive) clearances from ATC to enter the airspace.

8. Pilots must _____________ (follow, execute, obey) ATC instructions implicitly.

9. The ____________ (error, fault, mistake) a controller may cost very much.

10. An ATC controller keeps the situation in his sector under _____________ (steady, fixed, constant) control.

11. An ATC controller _______________ (warns, informs, notifies) pilots about weather conditions, thunderstorm activity, cumulus, visibility and advises avoiding actions.

12. The _______________ (duties, charges, responsibilities) of an air traffic controller are very high, because lives of people depend on his actions.

Exercise 2.2.10 Fill in the gaps with the related words.

1. ATC controllers are responsible ______ keeping aircraft safely separated from each other.

2. Controllers maintain contact _______ the aircraft crews _______ the VHF radio telephone service.

3. Pilots must obtain clearances _____ ATC.

4. _____ controlled airspace each aircraft must be kept separated _____ all other _______ internationally agreed standards.

5. The responsibilities ______ an ATC controller are very high.

6. Lives of people depend ______ a controller’s actions.

7. A controller informs pilots _____ conflicting aircraft, weather conditions, thunderstorm activity, cumulus, visibility and advises avoiding actions.

8. _____ case ____ emergency a controller should act quickly and surely and find the only right decision.

9. A controller is responsible ____ handover the traffic to adjacent sectors ____ time.

10. The control ____ an aircraft movements is achieved largely ____ radar surveillance.

Exercise 2.2.11 Fill in the prepositions if necessary.

1. Air traffic _________ (CONTROL) are responsible for ____________ (KEEP) aircraft safely separate from each other.

2. The controller of aircraft __________ (MOVE) is achieved largely through radar surveillance.

3. A controller takes into account the ______________ (REQUIRE) of other traffic in the sector airspace.

4. To fly in controlled airspace aircraft must be ____________ (EQUIP) to a certain standard.

5. The pilots must hold the necessary ______________ (QUALIFY).

6. If necessary a controller must pass the _____________ (INFORM) to the ____________ (ALERT) service.

7. Pilots must obtain ____________ (CLEAR) from ATC.

8. Pilots must follow ATC ___________ (INSTRUCT) implicitly.

9. A controller warns a pilot about _____________ (CONFLICT) aircraft.

10. In case of emergency a controller should act ______________ (QUICK) and ___________ (SURE) and find the only right decision.

Exercise 2.2.12 Make up sentences using the given words.

1. ATC controllers / for / the / are / responsible / of / aircraft / safety.

2. Maintain / controllers / the / aircraft / contact / crews / with.

3. The / of / aircraft / movements / achieved / through / surveillance / control / is / radar.

4. Pilots / follow / must / instructions / ATC / implicitly.

5. Lives / depend / of / on / people / actions / controller’s.

6. Controllers / only / the / decision / is / to / responsible / him / for / all / controllers.

7. Supervisor / a subordinate / is / to / responsible / him / for / all / controllers.

8. A controller / the / keeps / under / situation / control constant.

Exercise 2.2.13 Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Диспетчеры отвечают за безопасность полетов.

2. Самолеты должны эшелонироваться безопасно друг от друга.

3. Диспетчеры поддерживают контакт с экипажами при помощи радиотелефонной связи.

4. Контроль за движением воздушного судна осуществляется, в основном, при помощи обзорного радиолокатора.

5. Диспетчер знает все о воздушном судне, который будет в его зоне: позывной ВС, маршрут полета, высоту, скорость и другие необходимые детали.

6. Диспетчер следит за движением воздушного судна, находящимся в его зоне.

7. Все действия диспетчера должны быть согласованы (скоординированы) со смежными секторами УВД.

8. Необходимо согласовывать действия со смежными органами УВД с соседними (смежными) странами.

9. Пилоты должны получать разрешения от службы УВД, чтобы войти в контрольную зону.

10. Воздушные суда должны выдерживать интервалы друг от друга согласно международным стандартам.

11. Ответственность диспетчера очень высокая.

12. Жизни людей зависят от действий (работы) диспетчера.

13. Пилоты должны выполнять указания диспетчеров службы движения.

14. Если воздушные суда выполняют полет выше эшелона полета (ЭП) 290, они должны эшелонироваться вертикально как минимум 1000 футов или 2000 футов.

15. Ошибка диспетчера может дорого стоить.

16. Диспетчер предупреждает столкновение воздушных судов на земле и в воздухе.

17. Диспетчер держит ситуацию в своем секторе под постоянным контролем.

18. Диспетчер предупреждает пилота о движении, которое может ему помешать осуществлять полет.

19. Он также информирует пилота о любых погодных условиях, грозовой деятельности, видимости и советует (рекомендует) как обойти другое движение.

20. В случаи аварийной ситуации, диспетчер должен действовать быстро и найти единственно правильное решение.

21. Если возникает необходимость, диспетчер должен передавать информацию службе аварийного оповещения.

22. Диспетчер отвечает за своевременную передачу управление воздушным судном смежному сектору.

23. Руководитель полетов отвечает за работу всех диспетчеров, которые подчинены ему.

24. Найти единственно правильно решение при ведении радиообмена с воздушным судном – самая важная задача для диспетчера.

25. Главная и основная задача службы движения – обеспечение безопасности полетов во всем мире.

Exercise 2.2.14 Make up your own sentences using the words and word combinations.

ATC controllers; to be responsible for; to maintain contact; aircraft crews: P / T service; a vital link; air traffic service; radar surveillance; in the future; a safe FL; a fundamental principle; to enter the airspace; the necessary qualifications; to obtain clearance; to follow ATC instructions; responsibilities; a mistake; to depend on …, to prevent collision; under constant control; to give clearance; to warn; conflicting aircraft; in case of emergency; if necessary; alerting service; adjacent sector; in time; a supervisor; the only right decision; the lives of people; to act quickly and surely; weather conditions; thunderstorm activity; visibility.

Exercise 2.2.15 Retell the text.