Howto:Be a Real ATC Controller

Note
This article will explain how to be an air traffic controller per real world standards. Under no terms is this article suggesting that these procedures must be followed. Also, this article is not finished.

Air Traffic Control is a rather important part of real aviation, and adds some realism to Flightgear's multiplayer servers. A lot of people like to be Air Traffic Controllers, but many do not know how to do it properly. This article will teach you how to control aircraft, following simplified real-world procedures.

Types Of Controllers

Position Suffix	Name	Description	Exchange Example
xxxx_GND	Ground Controller	The ground controller is in charge of all aircraft taxiing at the airport. Either the Clearence Controller or the Ground Controller is the first center a pilot contacts.	"San Francisco Ground Cessna N293BZ At Parking Request Taxi For Takeoff." "Cessna N293BZ taxi to runway 19L via taxiways A1 A2 F7 F6 M9"
xxxx_TWR	Tower Controller	The Tower Controller has control over all active runways. The tower controller issues all direct takeoff and landing clearences, as well as permissions to cross an active runway. Inactive runways belong to Ground Control	"San Francisco Tower Air Canada 172 Heavy request takeoff IFR, 28R" "Air Canada 172 Heavy Cleared for takeoff 28R".
xxxx_APP	Approach Controller	The Approach Controller is in charge of all aircraft arriving at the airport. When the aircraft coming in to land is handed off from Center to Approach, the controller will then line up the aircraft with the runway, clear it for approach, and hand it off to tower control. Approach controllers also do the job of Dep. Controllers when there is no Departure.	"Norcal Approach, United 991 inbound ILS runway 1L". "United 991 descend and maintain 3400 until established. Turn right heading 010. Cleared ILS Approach runway 1L".
xxxx_DEP	Departure Controller	Right after an aircraft has taken off, it will be handed over to departure, which then allows the aircraft to climb, and vectors the aircraft onto its planned course.	"Norcal Departure, American 183 at 2100 climbing 7000" "American 183, Norcal Departure, Roger. Turn left heading 040 proceed on course"
xxxx_CTR	(ARTCC) Center Controller	Center controllers control aircraft during cruise. After an aircraft that has taken off from San Francisco headed for Los Angeles is at cruising altitude and the pilot is just reading a book, center control just makes sure no aircraft crash together.	"Salt Lake City Center, American 111 with you, flight level 320". "American 111, Salt Lake City Center, Roger."
xxxx_DEL	Clearance Delivery	A Clearance controller tells IFR flights where they are allowed to fly.	"San Francisco Clearance, Horizon 1192, IFR to Los Angeles, Ready to copy" "Horizon 1192, cleared to Los Angeles as filed, skip TAMREN waypoint. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain 8,000. Departure on 118.20. Squak 6623."

IFR vs. VFR

Choosing to make your flight IFR (Instrument Flight Rules} or VFR (Visual Flight Rules) can impact it in a lot of ways. This section will teach you the differences.

Instrument Flight Rules

IFR flights are mainly used by commercial airline flights. Basicly, the airline files a flight plan (a plan that shows everything from runways that will be used to crusing altitude, and the exact course the aircraft will take) with Air Traffic Control. All of this information is plugged into the autopilot. Then, the flight is expected to request clearances, and Air Traffic Control knows exactly where it will go.

Example IFR Flight

We will be following Air Canada flight 228 from Toronto to New York City.

While passengers are boarding, the pilots will contact Toronto Clearance Delivery.

"Toronto Clearance Delivery, Air Canada 228, IFR to John F. Kennedy, Ready to Copy"

"Air Canada 228 is cleared to John F. Kennedy as filed. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain 11,000. Squak 3854. Departure on 118.22."

"Cleared to JFK as filed. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain 11,000. Squak 3854. Departure on 118.22, Air Canada 228"

"Air Canada 228, readback correct. Contrac ground on 192.22 when ready to taxi"

The pilots wait for the passengers to finish boarding. Then, all passengers are aboard.

"Toronto Ground, Air Canada 228, at gate, request taxi IFR".

"Air Canada 228, taxi to runway 23 via taxiway F G H1 H2 M N1 N7. Contack tower on 118.9 when ready"

"23 via F G H1 H2 M N1 N7, tower on 118.9 Air Canada 228"

The pilots taxi their aircraft to the runway.

"Toronto Tower, Air Canada 228 ready for takeoff runway 23"

TO BE CONTINUED