Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Operations

The initial subject focuses on the primary control positions located in the ARTCC. Each position is discussed to identify the responsibility of the control position and the types of control strategies that are employed to safely and efficiently manage and separate aircraft operating in ARTCC airspace.

The next topic addresses the airspace structure within the ARTCC, including the internal sectorization that subdivides the airspace into manageable sizes and configurations. That is followed by a discussion of the way high volumes of aircraft are managed and controlled to create order out of the chaos an unstructured and undisciplined flow of aircraft would generate.

In addition, there will also be media "games" to and videos that will allow the attendee to "experience" the personal stress of ARTCC operations.

Why should you Attend: For most people, the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) is the least known of all air traffic control (ATC) facilities. The ARTCC is primarily focused on providing high altitude aircraft separation services to aircraft during the enroute phase of flight. It also performs all ATC functions in the absence of an Airport Traffic Control Tower or terminal Radar Approach Control. The ARTCC is the heart of the ATC system and if you have a personal or professional need to fully understand the United States Air Traffic Control System and the operational and functional integration of its component elements, an incomplete understanding of the role of the ARTCC can, and often does, undermine the operational value and effectiveness of technological efforts to enhance the systemic performance of the National Airspace System (NAS) by failing to addressing the "real world" conditions and issues that constrain operational capabilities. From a controller's perspective, too often technical "solutions" and enhancements solve the "easy" part of ATC and often, because of a naïve understanding of ATC procedures end up actually INCREASING controller workload instead of lessening it.

If you are an instrument rated pilot, much of your ATC exposure and experience will involve the ARTCC. Your experience will be more intuitive and less frustrating with an understanding of what the ATC system is trying to accomplish and how works. If you are simply interested in aviation, an understanding of ATCT operations is fundamental to understanding the aviation system.

Areas Covered in the Session:

• ARTCC control positions
• Airspace allocations and configurations
• Facility internal airspace sectorization
• Enroute traffic flow design
• Examples of ARTCC operations
• Media videos and educational "games"

• Engineers and other developers of ATC technologies and systems
• Managers and other aviation strategic planners
• Government and industry aviation executives
• Pilots
• Aviation enthusiasts