MovieChat Forums > Pushing Tin (1999) Discussion > OK, I have to ask a dumb question about ...

OK, I have to ask a dumb question about ATC.

posted 13 years ago by jjjunob
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm guessing this is obvious to anyone who knows a bit about ATC, but I know nothing, so . . . .

From watching this movie, it looks to me as if there are multiple controllers working the same space, and each controller is just looking at his own 'assigned' planes. So he keeps his own planes lined up (so to speak) and safely separated, but how does he keep from directing a plane into the path of some other controller's plane?

I know there must be something very logical and obvious that I'm missing here. Thanks for any help.

[–] alcockell 13 years ago

Each radar station is covering a separate sector of airspace... so each controller is handling different airspace - as in different chunks of altitude, and actual separate airspace. They;'re all working a TMA, and therefore are the interface between Air Arrivals and Air Departures controllers in the towers.. and the En-route control centres who handle the airways.

Complex software on-board the mainframes feeding the radar transponder data and flight progress info help with calculating collision avoidance data.. there's also TCAS on the individual aircraft.

They're also talking on different frequencies for the different sectors.. the squawk codes help line everything up...

ATCOs here - could you chime in and help as well?

[–] LuccaBrasi 13 years ago

You guys are watching this on Film-4 just now ,aren't you???

You Just Brought A Gun To A Bomb Fight, Officer!!!

[–] jjjunob 13 years ago

Some of your terminology lost me a bit ;-) but I think I got the gist.

[–] alcockell 12 years ago

Might be down to me using CAA terminology, but then I *am* a Brit...