The VCS allows an ATC Operator to interface to their radio and telephone communications system through a single headset or handset. The improves efficiency particularly if there are several frequencies or telephone lines that must be managed at the same time. The VCS also provides several functions that may be important to ATC Towers such as patching of telephone calls to radios, cross-coupling of radio channels and main standby radio selection to mention just a few. However, if the role of the operator in the tower only requires access to a single radio and a telephone then it is possible that a VCS will not be required and the cost of the ATC tower can be reduced accordingly.