final exam atc

• V – Victor airways:

• Below 18,000 ft.

• J – Jet routes:

• At or above 18,000 ft.

RNAV (Area Navigation) Routes

• T Routes –

• Q Routes –

• T Routes – Low altitude RNAV below 18,000 ft.

• Q Routes – High altitude RNAV at or above 18,000 ft.

NAVAIDs

• VOR, VORTAC = ground-based NAVAIDs used for navigation.

2. TRACON (Approach/Departure Control)

• Handles aircraft arriving, departing, or transiting terminal airspace.

• Uses radar & non-radar procedures.

• Minimum separation:
  

  • 3 miles horizontal

  • 1,000 ft vertical

• Operating system: STARS

ARTCC – Air Route Traffic Control Centers

• Provide ATC service during en route phase.

• Sequence aircraft ~200 miles before arrival.

• 22 Centers in the US.

• Centers are divided into: Areas → Sectors

• ICAO term for center airspace: Flight Information Region (FIR)

• Operating system: ERAM

Sector Altitudes

• Low sectors: FL230 and below

• High sectors: FL240 and above

Main Positions and separations

• R-Side (Radar) – talks to aircraft

• D-Side (Data) – coordinates and assists

Separation

• 5 miles, 1,000 ft (Center standard)

Types of Separation

1. Lateral – horizontal spacing (miles or by NAVAID radials)

2. Longitudinal – spacing along track (time or miles)

3. Vertical – altitude separation

4. Visual – pilot or controller maintains visual separation

Airspace Overview

Controlled Airspace

• ATC separates IFR; VFR self-separate.

Positive Controlled

• ATC separates both IFR & VFR.

Uncontrolled Airspace

• ATC provides no services.

Flight Levels & Altimeters

• Begin at FL180 (18,000 ft)

• Always MSL unless stated otherwise

• Flight levels become unusable if altimeter is 29.91 or lower

Same Runway Separation (SRS)

• Allows more than one aircraft on runway if spacing requirements met.

• Dependent on Category I, II, III aircraft.

• Required spacing: 3,000, 4,500, 6,000 ft depending on aircraft categories.

Wake Turbulence

• Result of lift, creating wingtip vortices.

• Most affected by aircraft weight.

Non-Radar Separation

Vertical:

• 2,000 ft block (top to bottom)

Other types used:

• Lateral

• Longitudinal

Time/Distance Standards:

• 10 minutes or 20 miles

Special Use Airspace (SUA)

Examples:

• Restricted

• Prohibited

• MOA (Military Operations Area)

• Warning Areas

• Alert Areas

Lateral separation: 3 miles from boundaries.