ATC

[Ray Blaszak]

I am really looking for a technical answer from somebody who has done ATC first hand. I have a few questions that I am looking to be answered:

1.First, in controller training do they give you basic explanations of pilots emergencies? I mean I watched 121.5 and the controller didn't know what a double vaccum loss what or what it meant. Yes, the pilot could of explained it to her but, thats what I am talking about.

2. Also, how does all the chaos in the air get coordinated? I know you talk to people on landlines and stuff but, how do you manage to control 50+ airplanes and talk to other controllers?

3. Also, what is a TRSA? I have a basic idea from what I learned in PPL training.

Any insight would be helpful.

[ATC RET 2003]

Originally Posted by Ray Blaszak

I am really looking for a technical answer from somebody who has done ATC first hand. I have a few questions that I am looking to be answered:

1.First, in controller training do they give you basic explanations of pilots emergencies? I mean I watched 121.5 and the controller didn't know what a double vaccum loss what or what it meant. Yes, the pilot could of explained it to her but, thats what I am talking about.

We were given a basic understanding of the principles of flight and basic instrumentation. There was not what I would call any in-depth training regarding specific aircraft systems. If a pilot reported a failure of some system or component, I probably would not have been able to deduce anything from it... I would need to be told what that failure meant in terms of the ability to maintain altitude or knowing what heading is being flown, etc. The longer I did the job, though, the more I learned about what certain system failures meant.

2. Also, how does all the chaos in the air get coordinated? I know you talk to people on landlines and stuff but, how do you manage to control 50+ airplanes and talk to other controllers?

You get some help. Each emergency situation is different and is handled differently. Essentially you should only need to tell the supervisor what you've got and everything you need should be taken care of. That can entail nearly anything, depending on the situation, such as putting an extra person on the sector to handle landline communications or getting the emergency aircraft onto a dedicated frequency and putting the rest of your traffic on someone else. Lately, though, that type of supervision seems to have become a lost art.

3. Also, what is a TRSA? I have a basic idea from what I learned in PPL training.

A TRSA is a Terminal Radar Service Area. It was the precursor of the ARSA (Airport Radar Service Area) which eventually became Class C airspace. In a TRSA, basic IFR radar services were extended to VFR aircraft. Participation was voluntary. When ARSAs were established, the same basic services were being extended, but participation became mandatory.

[JT ATC]

Originally Posted by Ray Blaszak

1.First, in controller training do they give you basic explanations of pilots emergencies? I mean I watched 121.5 and the controller didn't know what a double vaccum loss what or what it meant. Yes, the pilot could of explained it to her but, thats what I am talking about.

That's why we are required to ask what your intentions are. The pilot is ultimately responsible for knowing what their plane can do if something goes wrong, so we just ask and help them out as much as possible and keep them away from other planes.

[PilotChip]

The primary thing in any situation is to understand (as stated in previous post) what the pilot wants to do, what type of emergency exists, #of persons on board and fuel quantity remaining in the tanks (time or qty).

Military ATC school (NAS Pensacola, FL) didn't really teach anything at all about aircraft systems or failures. In some unusual instances the controller may attempt to assist the pilot directly, but I don't recommend it since we're not PIC and may create post-legal issues. Now, if a student pilot has a rough engine I MAY suggest for them to check fuel selector, mixture, carb heat or something like that in general terms (being a pp myself).

While you're doing that, your tower team initiates the emerg. response procedure for the airport (ie., red phone, rescue trucks, etc..) Knowing what the pilot will do helps you to "protect for the future" meaning; off-site landing, crash landing, gear up, fire etc.

Busy controllers sometimes have an "assistant" of some sorts, I'm not too sure about that because we don't have any, but there's a set procedure for communicating on the inter/intraphone lines that makes the talking quick and concise. Usually conversations last no longer than 10sec depending on the type of info being coordinated.

Too bad the live atc sites don't pick up some of those lines.