Evening star., 1960-12-25
BY CHARLES J. YARBROUGH
star stan Writer

BY CHARLES J. YARBROUGH
Star Stan Writer
At least 80 minutes before fight
time on a typical Washington to
New York commercial airline, the
line will have submitted fight
plan-information on how the
pilot proposes to operate the trip
to the Washington Air Route
Traffic Control Center.
The Center, one Of rs units OPP
Grated over the Nation by the Fed
eral Aviation Agency. is charged
with the control of all instrument
flight rule traffic en- route between
terminals. Instrument flight rules
mean that the fight will be con-
Quoted over one of the many sky
highways" routes. designated
and controlled by the FAA and
studded with radio and naviga-
ton aids comparable to road signs.
The flight plan will include,
among other things, destination.
aircraft identification, type, pro-
posed cruising speed, desired alti-
tude, desired route and estimated
time en- route.
This enables the Washington
Center to survey the traffic situa-
ton and fit the proposed flight
into the overall traffic.
The WaShington-New York run
is one of the busiest SkywayS in
the world and, necessarily, there
are several ways Of getting there.
In this hypothetical instance.
the pilot has given New York'S
1dlewild airport as his destination.
LocoI CIeoronce
Before he takes of, he is given
a clearance by the local (tower)
controller and the Center, which
might read:
"You are cleared to Idlewild air
port via Victor 1913 (the skyway
designation Baltimore, Victor A,
Price "a radio navigation add
Victor Is, Coyle, IN. j. Victor !,
Idlewild. Cross Riverdale. md.
radio beacon) at 5000 feet cross
Baltimore above 5000 Ito make
way for Baltimore traffic). Main
tain 5000 feet. After takeof pro-
ceed on runway heading Compass
direction) and contact departure
control on 1877 megacycleS
(tower)."
In all probability the initial
clearance will be changed while
the flight is in progress. depend
ing on many factors-weather and
traffic for example. However, in
event of communications failure,
the pilot will continue on the last
clearance given him. thus giving
en- route controllers his probable
position.
The control tower gives the pilot
his taxi and departure clearance.
All pilots have detailed departure
charts-showing the various ways
of leaving the terminal area.
These could be compared to a city
map.
Reaching his cruising altitude
of 5000 feet. he will fly the airway,
navigating by reception Of very
high frequency, omni-directional
radio signals called VOR. The
signal shows on a display in the
cockpit. His road" is 10 miles
wide.
No other aircraft should be less
than 1000 feet from him in alti-
tude and traffic control keeps rir-
craft separated laterally by II
minutes.
Must Moke Reports
Along his route are a number
Of geographic locations callec
compulsory reporting points wher'
he must advise the en- route ira
fic controller of his altitude ant
the time. On this flight he woult
be reporting over Baltimore, Ken
ton, Md, Coyle, N. j.
His information also will includ
his estimated time of arrival a
the next reporting point. At an
time he may be asked for addi
tional information, depending Of
traffic and weather.
His aircraft will have two Vol
receivers. One normally will b
tuned to the frequency Of the sky
way he is flying; the other tune
to the one on which he is to turr
AS in a highway system, there al
intersections of the skyways, al
ways marked by a radio signal.
Shortly after leaving Baltimor
he will turn at the Price intersec
ton on to Victor A. and will /
told by the Washington Center
start reporting to the New Yor
Control Center.
He will have been under WASH
ington Center radar surveillant
to a point about Is miles ea
of Baltimore; will be picked up
the New York Center radar abo'
80 miles out Of Idlewild.
Radar is a supplementary SER
ice to the plane separation criteri
which is normally established {
the basis of pilot position report
The Airport Approach
, When he is transferred to Il
New York Center controllers,
3 proceeds along Victor l6 and VI
\ tor l into the New York area
accordance with clearances pr