An Air Traffic Control (ATC) service is a service provided by an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) that manages the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic. The main objective of an ATC service is to prevent collisions between aircraft, and to organize and expedite the flow of traffic so that each aircraft can proceed safely to its destination.
The three main types of ATC services are:
1. Advisory Services:
- Flight Information Service (FIS): Provide information to pilots about other known aircraft in the vicinity, weather conditions, etc.
- Alerting Service: Notify appropriate agencies if an aircraft appears to be in distress.
2. Control Services: Authorize, regulate and control the movement of aircraft in controlled airspace in order to maintain separation between aircraft and prevent collisions. These services are further divided into:
- Air Traffic Control Clearance (ATCC): Involves issuing instructions to pilots so they can operate their aircraft within controlled airspace without conflicting with other traffic.
- Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM): Proactive measures taken by controllers in order to avoid potential conflicts and delays before they happen by managing the overall flow of traffic.
3. Navigation Services: Help pilots navigate their aircraft safely and efficiently from one point to another using ground-based or satellite-based navigation aids such as VORs, NDBs, DMEs, etc.