The Air Traffic Control Tower Holds The Key To Safe, Efficient Air Travel
As a Flight Operation Officer, I have worked side by side with air traffic controllers for many years. Because of this I have a special understanding of the complex air traffic control towers. These tower structures are like the brains of our airports. Inside these high towers my colleague air traffic controllers work 24/7 to move planes safely and smoothly both on the ground and in the air around the airport. In this article, I will discuss with you how these amazing tall towers in airports work. Air Traffic Control Tower…
A look inside the air traffic control tower
What is a control tower? Do you remember those tall towers at airports? They have different shapes and structures, right? Would you believe this is the place that directs and controls all the airport traffic? Yes, that’s what the air traffic controller tower does. Every airport has one of these towers and they do more work than just controlling take-offs and landings. It handles every airspace activity of every plane in its area.
Is a control tower necessary? Yes. It helps the air traffic controller move planes on the ground and in the air safely and efficiently. They cannot do their job well without seeing what is happening around them. Actually, planes cannot even fly in an airspace if they do not communicate with the control towers and control centers. This communication is very important to controllers in the control towers to organize air traffic without any accidents.
Air traffic controller tower functions
Air traffic control tower duties are so important to reduce air traffic and keep air space. Here are some of them.
- Ground control – They watch and manage vehicle and plane movements on the ground at the airport.
- Flight clearance control – They give and manage clearances for flight plans before a plane takes off.
- Local traffic control – They coordinate the planes.
- Approach control – They talk to planes to give them permission to approach for landing and take-off.
- Airspace control – They look after all activities in the airspace.
Like that, the air traffic controller tower does more than just watch planes that are arriving and leaving.
What is the difference between ATC and tower?
Air traffic control (ATC) manages plane movements in a certain airspace, including en-route and terminal control. The tower, on the other hand, is just the control tower at an airport. The people in the tower give instructions for planes taking off, landing, and moving on the ground near the airport.
What is the difference between a tower controller and an air traffic controller?
The main difference between a tower controller and an air traffic controller is what they do in the aviation network. Air traffic controllers manage safety and efficiency in an airspace area. They give clearances and instructions to pilots to move planes orderly.
Tower controllers, on the other hand, look after air traffic near an airport. They coordinate planes taking off, landing, and taxiing on runways and taxiways. They work to keep airport operations safe and efficient.
Air traffic control tower interior
So, what is inside a control tower? The tower is tall, but it is not just so you can get up to the cab to see the planes. There is more to it than that.
Cab
This is the highest part of the tower. You can easily spot it thanks to all the windows. Air traffic controllers carry out most of their work here. A cab should be constructed as follows to gain the most efficiency.
Lighting
There should be three kinds of lights in a cab.
- Adjustable ones for the workstations
- focusable lighting and
- low-intensity floor-level lighting for when it is dark.
Climate control
Tower staff do not want to be bothered when they are in the cab, so the heating and cooling system inside the cab is put at the junction level. The temperature and humidity in the cab need to be just right for the staff to work well. That is why there is a backup air conditioning system in the cab for emergencies.
Visibility
The windows are very close to the workstations in the tower. Talking about air traffic control tower glass specifications, the glass should be angled just right to avoid glare. And they should help controllers identify planes apart from other vehicles easily.
Shaft
This is the tall part of the tower that the cab sits on. It has lifts, stairs, and hoists for people and equipment to get up and down.
Service building
This is usually a lower building attached to the shaft. Here is where you can find the technical and maintenance offices. You can also see a workshop, storage spaces, meeting and training rooms, toilets, and parking here.
Junction level
This is the widest part of the tower. You can find it between the shaft and the cab. Is it on one or two floors? That depends on the airport. Here you will see rooms for communications equipment, beacons, air conditioning, and surface radar. There is also a restroom for staff, and toilets.
How many air traffic controllers are there in a tower?
It is always changing. Sometimes there can be two controllers in a small operation or sometimes there could be more than ten controllers in a busy, complex airport. It actually depends on the services that the airport offers. For example, let’s say an airport has crossing or parallel runways, or it handles arrivals and departures in an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) environment, then this kind of airport may need more people in their control tower.
Air traffic control tower design
Did you know that control towers don’t always have to be at the airport? If a control tower can get its essential services covered it can operate from outside of an airport. But they should never be placed in an area that could interfere with aircraft operations.
Let’s look at some key design principles architects focus on when they plan an ATC tower
Height and visibility
Why are ATC towers so high? It is because controllers should be able to see the whole airport from the tower. They should be able to see runways, taxiways, and aircraft parking areas properly from where they stand. So, when architects pick a spot for the tower, they always try to minimize things that could block the view and maximize visibility.
Where is the world’s tallest air traffic control tower? It is at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is 136 meters (446 feet) tall.
Layout and space
Architects also consider controllers and staff comfortability when designing a control tower. They design it for them to move around easily. And they leave enough space for all the equipment and technology controllers use in the tower.
Acoustics and lighting
It should also have good sound insulation. There should be enough light for clear visibility day and night.
Security and safety
Tower’s safety is another important factor. Controllers and staff should be able to work in a safe and secure place. So, architects always keep in their mind to make sure it is protected from extreme weather, fire, and other dangers.
Ergonomics
Air traffic control is hard enough for controllers. The tower should not give them an extra headache. So, the architects design it to reduce physical strain on the controllers and staff. For example, giving them proper seating and adjustable workstations.
Sustainability
This is a must when planning an air traffic control tower. So, architects always use less energy-consuming and less environmentally impacting materials and systems when they build control towers.
Air traffic control towers around the world
In my career, I have visited and worked with air traffic controllers at many airports around the world. Each control tower is unique. And the airport they serve, and the challenges of their location give them their own shape.
LAX (Los Angeles International Airport)
The LAX control tower is 277 feet tall. Here controllers get a great view of one of the busiest airports in the world.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale air traffic control tower is 117 feet tall. This tower’s curved design is not just a showoff, it is built to handle hurricane winds.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The Atlanta air traffic control tower is 398-foot tall. This is one of the tallest in the U.S. It’s also the fifth tallest in the world.
Portland International Airport
The Portland air traffic control tower is 266 feet tall, and it offers some of the most scenic views overlooking a beautiful forested area.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The Charlotte air traffic control tower is 370 feet tall. It is famous for its sleek, modern design and advanced technology. It has an 850-square-foot cab, and it gives controllers a 360-degree airfield view.
Orlando International Airport
The Orlando air traffic control tower is 345 feet tall. It can handle the huge crowds of tourists visiting the area’s theme parks. The tapered glass panels on the tower gives a clear 360-degree view and makes controllers comfortable with counter condensation and glare qualities.
Abu Dhabi International Airport
Abu Dhabi air traffic control tower is 109 meters (358 feet) tall. Doesn’t this tower’s unique crescent shape look awesome? It reflects the region’s cultural heritage. It is a single building with Aerodrome and Ground Control in the top Visual Room and Approach Control on Level 1.
Tokyo Haneda Airport
The control tower at Tokyo Haneda Airport is 115.7 meters (about 380 feet) tall. It is the third tallest control tower in the world.
Beijing Capital International Airport
The control tower at Beijing Capital International Airport is 98.3 meters tall. It is the tallest building at the airport. Do you know why its terminal roof is red? It is because red is the Chinese color for good luck.
Air traffic control towers Australia
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne air traffic control tower is 75 meters (about 246 feet) tall. Here you can get a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Sydney Airport
Sydney air traffic control is 45 meters tall. With its unique shape this tower is noticeably different from all other towers in Australia and other countries.
Conclusion
Now you know that the air traffic control tower is not another building or a structure. It is the center of aviation operations in any country. Every part of the air traffic control tower from the design and interior to the height and location, all are important to manage air traffic safely and efficiently. Tower is like the home for air traffic controllers. Without it we cannot even imagine a future for air traffic control.
