Tutorial
7. Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC)
The National Air Traffic Management System must balance safety requirements with capacity and the demand for servicesthat result from increased air traffic. Automation is a key ingredient for this improvement. Automation will enhanceair traffic control and traffic management performance in the face of ever increasing traffic loads.
Air traffic management is the strategic management of trafficflow to minimize delays and congestion while maximizing the overall "throughput" of the National AirspaceSystem.
The ATCSCC regulates air traffic when weather, equipment,runway closures, or other impacting conditions place stress on the NAS. In these instances, Traffic ManagementSpecialists at the ATCSCC take action to modify traffic demands in order to remain within the system's capacity.This is accomplished in cooperation with the following:
Today's Traffic Management System (TMS) evolved over several decades and is designed to meet the demands and requirements of the traveling public. A multi-phased plan developed in 1983 enhanced TMS capabilities through sophistication of procedures and automation of systems and equipment. The existing traffic flow system is being improved and upgraded in phases to achieve a fully integrated Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS). The safe separation and the regulation of aircraft into and out of airport terminals are crucial to the national flow of air traffic.
Leading the FAA's air traffic management team is the AirTraffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) located at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. ATCSCC manages airtraffic problems with a national perspective. In addition, ATCSCC coordinates the actions of traffic managementunits (TMUs) located in ATC facilities across the country. Nationwide, there are 20 Air Route Traffic Control Centers(ARTCCs). Each ARTCC contains a TMU that is responsible for traffic flow within that Center's designated airspace.
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