Tutorial
8. How It All Works Together
Every minute hundreds of commercial aircraft push back from their departure gates and begin flightsthat follow a common flight profile. The flight begins in preflight when weather information is obtained and aflight plan is filed. After the departure clearance is given from the tower, the aircraft pushes back from thegate, and receives instructions from the ground controller in the airport's control tower on the appropriate taxiwaysto take toward the takeoff runway. "Cleared for departure (or takeoff)," is issued by the Local (Tower)Controller. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot is instructed to change radio frequency and contact Departure Controlworking in the TRACON. The aircraft is now in the departure phase of flight. During this phase the aircraft isrouted away from the airport via an assigned heading with a climb clearance to a new altitude.
After departure, the aircraft is handed off to a Centercontroller. The aircraft is now moving into the en route phase of flight. The Center controller monitors the flightand gives instructions to the pilot as the aircraft passes through the Center's airspace from sector to sector.This phase can last from a few minutes to many hours depending on the distance between the departure and the destinationairports. Once the aircraft is within approximately 150 miles of its destination airport, it begins its descentphase. The aircraft moves from its cruising altitude to a lower altitude. Approximately 50 miles from the airport,the aircraft is handed off to the TRACON controller where the descent continues during the approach phase of flight.The Approach Controller in the TRACON is blending several streams of descending aircraft into one evenly paced,smooth flowing line of aircraft to line up for a particular runway.
The flight is then handed off from the controllerin the TRACON to the Local Controller who is stationed at the destination airport's control tower. The Local Controllerissues landing clearance. The aircraft lands and is handed off electronically to the Ground Controller (also inthe airport's control tower) who directs the pilot across the taxiways to the destination gate.
It is this entire network of controllers and facilitiesthat monitor and direct the air traffic through the airspace above the United States.
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