Air Traffic Control Facilities and Special Use Airspace

Vocabulary flashcards covering TRACON, ARTCC, special use airspace, and related operations.

AFSS

Automated Flight Service Station; provides weather briefings and preflight information but does not control air traffic.

ATCT

Airport Traffic Control Tower; handles the immediate airspace and surface operations around an airport.

TRACON

Terminal Radar Approach Control; provides radar-based approach and departure guidance for aircraft in a terminal area, divided into sectors.

ARTCC

Air Route Traffic Control Center; provides en route air traffic control for IFR traffic, organized into sectors, and includes support roles like TMU and ATCSCC.

MOA

Military Operations Area; active military training airspace where civilian IFR should avoid; VFR may be allowed but not generally recommended.

TFR

Temporary Flight Restriction; onetime or occasional restrictions for security or safety, often around events or VIP movements.

TRACON Flight Data

A TRACON position that compiles flight plans, disseminates weather information, and handles non-operational data rather than active separation.

TRACON Radar Associate

Radar position (D-side) that coordinates with adjacent sectors, initiates transfers/hand-offs, and manages airspace use without talking to pilots.

TRACON Radar Coordinator

Senior/ Supervisory controller who assists radar controllers and coordinates across sectors to maintain safe operation.

TRACON Radar Controller

Controller who talks to aircraft, issues clearances, and provides vectors within their sector.

TRACON Satellite Controller

Controller who manages traffic to satellite airports (e.g., smaller field editors like Max Westheimer) from the TRACON.

TRACON Sector

A subdivision of TRACON airspace, each managed by a distinct team/controller for efficiency and safety.

TRACON Airspace (class)**

TRACON airspace is typically Class C or D around busy airports, extending roughly up to 15,000 feet and about 30–40 miles from the primary airport.

IFR Clearance (in TRACON/Center)

Clearance issued for IFR flights to enter or proceed through the TRACON/Center airspace, including route and altitude.

EDCT

Estimated Departure Clearance Time; a time window used to space out departures to manage traffic flow.

Ground Delay Program

A TMU-driven plan to delay departures on the ground to balance capacity at airports and prevent excessive holding.

Arrival Sequencing Program

Process of sequencing inbound traffic to align arrivals for a given airport.

Departure Sequencing Program

Process of sequencing outbound traffic to avoid conflicts and optimize routing.

TMU

Traffic Management Unit; balances airspace capacity with demand, coordinating reroutes, delays, and departure windows.

ATCSCC

Air Traffic Control System Command Center; national coordination hub near Washington, DC, aligning plans across ARTCCs and major towers.

Inward Center

Centers handling IFR inbound traffic; centers' airspace can be restructured during events, outages, or high demand.

Class C/D Airspace

Classes of airspace around busy airports; TRACON airspace often operates within these classes to manage traffic.

Joint TRACON

A TRACON facility operated by both FAA and the Department of Defense (DoD), e.g., Myrtle Beach.

Center vs TRACON vs Tower

Tower handles local surface and immediate airspace; TRACON handles terminal-area approach/departure; Center handles en-route IFR traffic.