Operations & Safety

air traffic control

The air traffic control (ATC) system is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide safe separation of aircraft over the United States and in and out of U.S. airports.  ATA remains a strong vocal proponent of modernizing the ATC system (see ATA 2008 Economic Report, "Managing Our Airspace.")  This section highlights various ATC-related activities of interest to the airline industry.

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Transforming our National Airspace

The three critical components of the National Airspace System - communications, navigation, and surveillance -- must be modernized if we are to maintain the world's largest, safest, and most efficient air transportation system.

ATC System Modernization

While the basic design of the U.S. air traffic control system dates back to the 1950s, this design promises to present ever-growing concerns as demand for system capacity continues to rise.

Shaping the Future ATC System

ATA Vice President, Operations and Safety Basil Barimo contributed an article entitled "Shaping the Future ATC System" in a recent issue of the Flight Safety Foundation magazine AeroSafety World.

ATA and "SAFE" Agree that Modernized ATC Will Significantly Reduce Fuel Consumption and U.S. Oil Dependence

ERAM (En Route Automation Modernization)

ERAM is intended to replace existing National Airspace System (NAS) software and hardware with an open standards-based architecture allowing scalability for current and future needs. ERAM will produce benefits in NAS safety, security, capacity, and efficiency, and is one of the key stepping stones to the next generation air traffic system.

Tailored Arrivals (TAs)

TAs are generated by ATM computers and consider local traffic, weather, terrain, noise restrictions, and the aircraft's own capabilities to obtain an optimal route and an exact touchdown time for arriving aircraft.

System-Wide Information Management (SWIM)

SWIM is a future information-management architecture that will manage surveillance, flight and weather data, and other National Airspace System data to all users.

Smart Skies Airspace Reform Concepts

The air traffic system is severely constrained. ATA offers these guiding principles on how the system can keep pace with user demand.

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Questions and Answers on RNAV

ATA Vice President of Operations and Safety Basil Barimo answers questions on RNAV.

Misrepresenting Air Traffic Delays

Reason Foundation's Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter Article on Misrepresenting Air Traffic Delays (01.01.2008)

Anatomy of Air Travel Delays

Causes and effects of National Airspace System (NAS) delays.

Cost of Air Traffic System Delays

Annual air traffic system delay costs to U.S. airlines.

FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center

The mission of the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center is to balance air traffic demand with system capacity in the National Airspace System (NAS).

FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center -- ATA Desk

The ATA Desk at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, Virginia, represents ATA members' daily operational concerns by recommending strategic and tactical solutions to mitigate system constraints in the National Airspace System (NAS).

RTCA Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee (ATMAC)

Flight Tracker

Commercial flight tracking web site.

Overview of System Capability and Demand

Information on the National Airspace System (NAS) capacity and demand.

Questions and Answers on Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)

Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)

ATA member airlines support a transition to an ADS-B surveillance system. Find out more about how it works and why FAA considers it the cornerstone of their Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Forbes Magazine ADS-B Article

Forbes Magazine's "Smarter Skies" Feb. 26 article highlights the benefits of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and that the technology could eventually replace the radar system and relieve air traffic congestion.

Other Helpful Traveler Tools

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FAA Produces NextGen Video

FAA produced a NextGen video that tracks how the same flight would be handled with the current ATC system versus modernized airspace management system.

Updated Air Traffic Control System Sorely Needed

ATA Vice President of Operations and Safety Basil Barimo speaks on ABC News with Charles Gibson stating that the current radar-based ATC system is outdated and stretched to its limits and the proposed $40 billion GPS-based system would be a huge improvement.

USA Today Editorial Supports FAA Budget Proposal

USA Today supports the FAA budget proposal for a cost-based ATC funding system.