Maricopa Community Colleges  ATC101   19886-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
ATC101 19886-20086 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Introduction to Air Traffic Control
Introduction to the air traffic control system at the operational level. Components of the National Airspace System with emphasis on interrelationships between enroute, terminal, tower, flight service functions, and the pilot.
Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
ATC101   19886-20086 Introduction to Air Traffic Control
1. Define air traffic control terms and relate them to the air traffic control (ATC) system. (I)
2. Identify major developments in the ATC system from 1926 to the present. (I)
3. Define the categories of aircraft and describe how they affect trafficmanagement, air space, and airport utilization. (I)
4. Identify communication, navigation, and surveillance capabilities and relate to the ATC system. (I)
5. Identify factors associated with airports which affect the overall efficiency of the ATC system. (I)
6. Explain the primary objective of air traffic control and how it is achieved. (I)
7. Describe the purpose, equipment, operating procedures, functions, and structure of airport traffic control towers. (II)
8. Describe the purpose, equipment, operating procedures, functions, and structure of terminal radar approach control. (II)
9. Explain the relationship of the enroute facilities to the overall ATC system. (III)
10. Describe the functions of the positions/sectors in the air route traffic control centers. (III)
11. Explain the structure and relationship of the Flight Service Stations (FSS) to the ATC system. (IV)
12. Define the different weather observations provided by FSS. (IV)
13. Describe the various emergency situations and FSS role in assisting pilots. (IV)
14. Explain the notice to airman program and its importance to the ATC system. (IV)
15. Explain the equipment and functions of a flight service station. (IV)
16. State the goals and objectives of the National Airspace System (NAS). (V)
17. State the demand for ATC services for the next ten years, and describe how each of the components within the NAS will evolve over that period. (V)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
ATC101   19886-20086 Introduction to Air Traffic Control
    I. History and fundamentals of air traffic control
        A. Glossary of air traffic control terms
        B. Interaction between pilot and controller on an imaginary cross-country flight
        C. Evolution of air traffic control
          1. 1926 to the present
          2. The future system
        D. Aircraft
          1. Categories
          2. Characteristics
          3. Uses
          4. Implication for air traffic control
        E. Airspace structure
        F. Communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS)
          1. Capabilities
          2. Contribution to the ATC system
        G. Airports
          1. Characteristics
          2. Relation to air traffic control system
        H. Air traffic control
          1. Primary objective
          2. Means for achievement of primary objective
      II. Terminal air traffic control
          A. Airport traffic control towers
            1. Purpose
            2. Equipment
            3. Operating procedures
            4. Functions
            5. Structure
          B. Terminal radar approach control
            1. Purpose
            2. Equipment
            3. Operating procedures
            4. Functions
            5. Structure
        III. Enroute air traffic control
            A. Structure and components
            B. Central Flow Control Facility
            C. Functions of the positions/sectors in air route traffic control centers
          IV. Flight service station operations
              A. Structure and functions of flight service stations
              B. Services provided
                1. Weather
                2. Flight plans
                3. Communications
                4. Assisting pilots in distress
                5. Monitoring navigational aids
                6. Notice to airman program
                7. Search and rescue
            V. National Airspace System plan
                A. Components
                B. Goals and objectives of the NAS
                C. Future requirements
                D. Planned evolution to implement in the NAS
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