Air traffic controller

An air traffic controller (german air traffic controller, air traffic control officer, ATCO ) has the task of air traffic safely, properly, to steer smoothly and economically. The term pilot comes originally from the seafaring where it describes an experienced sailor who knows the waters of a coastal or river so well that he can pass guide ships safely.

Tasks

Can be described in five categories, the tasks for air traffic controllers:

Air traffic controllers work in different disciplines that depend generally on the type of air traffic and on local circumstances. The field guide ' operates in a " Area Control Center". In his area of ​​responsibility primarily fly planes that have reached their cruising altitude and are in the so-called " haul ". The An-/Abfluglotse has his job in a ' Approach Control Office ". He controls most aircraft that are in flight segments that are associated with approach and departure procedures to and from airports. The tower controller did his job in a tower ( Tower ) at an aerodrome. He is responsible for all aircraft movements on the roll, take-off and landing runways and for takeoffs and landings.

The tripartite division of work areas described here has a long tradition and stirring is continued for a time in the aircraft and airspace organization was far less complex than today. The modern aviation with the extremely challenging mix of different aircraft categories, the requirements of the environmental and noise protection as well as the constraints to highly efficient and economical flights requires a constant adjustment of air traffic services. For this reason the borders between the air traffic control categories described above are no longer to be defined so clearly. Arrival and departure procedures and the associated rise and Sinkflugbewegungen of aircraft ranging from reasons of fuel economy to heights of 10 km and above, which were previously only reserved for the haul flights. One example is the " Continuous Descent Approach " called, in which, ideally, an aircraft from leaving the cruising altitude to perform a continuous descent to landing. This places special demands on the work of air traffic controllers.

The fact that a tower must always be positioned at a controlled aerodrome, is no longer absolutely necessary in the future. As part of the great European project SESAR "Remote Aerodrome Control" is working on the concept. Thereafter, the air traffic controllers in a central place to be in the future at the same time responsible for several controlled aerodromes. The introduction of a similar pilot project is already planned for 2013.

As a rule, the air traffic controller or a team of air traffic controllers a specified area of ​​responsibility. Aircraft are continuously transferred from one area to the next. The most common means of communication between air traffic controllers and pilots is still the ATC, as well as direct data connections are used. In this case, the pilot releases, statements, and information is transmitted directly to a display in the cockpit. The default language for all communication is English.

For the performance of its duties the air traffic controllers are numerous technical aids available. For the presentation of the flights and the radar or satellite monitoring systems are used. In order to detect potential collision hazards, there are both ground-based and airborne -based collision warning systems. The air traffic controller can detect conflict points that lie minutes in the future through faded Flugwegprojektionen on the radar screen. Hocheffizente systems calculated for the approach segments of airports the best possible sequence of aircraft to allow a maximum number of landings per unit of time. This is only a small part of the technical systems that are available to the air traffic controllers at his workplace.

In the field of air transport " system component man " is, unfortunately, still the largest uncertainty. Therefore, we tried to make do as much routine work of technical systems. On the other hand, man is but one who can adequately respond efficiently and safely for all eventualities. Recent studies from the SESAR project see in the future the human being as indispensable in the middle of the action. Nevertheless, the operation of the air traffic controllers varies with the rapidly increasing automation in all areas of air traffic control. He will increasingly need to the system manager who nevertheless must never lose track and if necessary to intervene in seconds. Therefore, the man-machine interface and the whole range of so-called " Human Factors " an immensely important importance.

Training

For training as an air traffic controller is allowed, who has each of the competitions in the country in which he is applying existed. In most European countries, this selection process is very strict, but the advantage is that a successful candidate has an approximately 80-90 % chance to also bring the training to a successful end. The DFS ( German Air Navigation Services ) describes the required candidate profile like this (excerpt in brief): High School, good to very good knowledge of English, pronounced spatial imagination, good memory, interest in technology as well as an above-average concentration. Team player, resilient, high sense of responsibility. 100% eyesight, hearing not restricted.

The air traffic controller training is divided into two parts:

Depending on its air traffic control discipline takes the institutional training between 1 and 1.5 years. Here and practical skills are taught in addition to the theoretical content in subjects such as air traffic control, air law, meteorology, navigation, aviation science and technology. This partly simulators are used, which reflect the real working environment of an air traffic controller nearly 1:1. English language skills are partly provided in part they are part of the training. After the successful completion of all tests, the prospective air traffic controllers receive the "Student Licence", the right to further education in the workplace.

This takes place usually at the intended place of use, and even once takes 1-2 years. Ortsbezogenene theoretical knowledge is provided, but the focus of the practical training is the work at the control position under the supervision of an instructor. For each workplace where the budding pilot ( trainee ) should work later self-employed, a practical test ( check out) is required. At the end of the trainee acquires the last check his pilot license that authorizes him to use self-responsible.

This training course described is roughly comparable across Europe. Also, the content, the learning objectives and the requirements for the training standards are largely harmonized by European directives EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).

Union

An interest group of the DFS air traffic controllers and the pilots of the Regional TTC and Austro Control (only for pilots who work at German courts ) takes over the union of air traffic control ( GdF ).

The air traffic controllers of the Bundeswehr have joined the Federation of Military Air Traffic Control Germany.

In Switzerland, six unions social partners Skyguide, the Swiss air navigation service provider:

• AEROcontrol Switzerland, Skycontrol and APTC, all under the umbrella of SwissATCA, which also serves as a professional association
• Employees Association of the Federation ( PVB)
• Syndicom - Union of Media and Communication
• Swiss Association of Public Service VPOD / SSP

Air safety Switzerland

Skyguide is the Swiss air navigation service provider, which steers over 1.16 million annually civil and military aircraft by the Swiss and neighboring foreign airspace. The company is organized as a corporation and actively on behalf of the Federal - 99 percent of the share capital is owned by the federal government. Within a statutory public service contract Skyguide provides for civil and military aviation security, for the liquid and economical operation of air transport, the aeronautical information services, aeronautical telecommunications service and the maintenance and operation of technical installations of air traffic control systems.

Responsibility of an air traffic

In the early days of commercial aviation, the main responsibility was for the safety of the airplane and its occupants, especially when pilots. As the number of participants increased dramatically in air travel since the 1950s, more and more airports had the necessary technical facilities, the responsibility of the safety of air traffic was handed over to the air traffic controllers increased since 1950. Nowadays, a safe and efficient flying is hardly possible without an air traffic controller. The airways are utilized annually with millions of flights. Majumdar and Washington ( 1996) between 1985 and 1990 found an average increase in air traffic by 8 percent.

The perception tasks of air traffic controllers

Among the perceptual performance of a work air traffic controllers include the identification information from the control strip ( it is noted, which has already received instructions from the pilot ), the interception of Funke and the visual identification of objects on the radar screen. In addition to visual auditory perception processes are also involved. The processes involved in the discovery of a range of signal on its identification to compare processes. The attention must be either selectively ( for example, in conflict situations), shared ( listen to the radio while some note ) or vigilant ( sustained attention, which is mostly focused on the radar monitors). Pilots need to turn their attention constantly different tasks. Errors are usually caused by lack of attention capacity or whose wrong allocation.

Mental workload

The mental workload of air traffic controller is mainly determined by the complexity of the controlled sector, individual differences and their cognitive strategies work. The complexity of the sector depends on the number of flight movements, the dynamic change during peak periods, geographical distribution and the average number per work hour.

Situational awareness

Situational awareness as a psychological concept can be defined as the perception, interpretation and anticipation of the development of elements of the environment during a specific time within a given space. The correct situation awareness of pilots can be defined as the idea of factors and output conditions that allow at certain times the safe and efficient control of air traffic. In the case of an air traffic control center, it is also necessary that the team members to share their information with each other in order to obtain an image of the entire area to be monitored air traffic. Pilot errors are usually described in retrospect as a collapse situation awareness. Air traffic controllers usually speak of "losing the picture ".