"D-Side" and "R-Side" controllers work a scope as a team to manage flight operations. "A-Side" controllers enter flight plans and disseminate flight progress strips for areas of low radar coverage. You hear one voice on the radio, but up to four controllers may work together to manage your flight. So, while you only hear one voice, there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Around 240 controllers work at Kansas City Center and more than 100 controllers may be on duty at one time. Each area includes seven to nine sectors, depending on traffic load. Kansas City Center has six areas of specialization, plus a traffic management unit. A radar controller works a single sector at a scope, possibly with the help of a "D-Side" controller and a "Tracker." To make the areas manageable, they're broken down into several high and low "sectors." At Kansas City Center, low sectors control airspace from the surface up to Flight Level 230, while high sectors cover airspace from Flight Level 240 and above. If a controller moves to a new area, they must certify on the new airspace prior to working in that area.Īreas of specialization cover broad expanses of airspace - too much space to be worked by a single radar controller. When controllers join the facility, they are assigned an area and certify on that area's airspace. One Center, Many AreasĮach ARTCC facility breaks their airspace down into areas of specialization - blocks of airspace worked by a team of controllers. But their job doesn't end with en-route - they also provide approach and departure control for airports without a dedicated approach facility. There are 20 Air Route Traffic Control Centers scattered throughout the United States, which manage en-route operations for IFR traffic and provide flight-following and other services for VFR operations. We call them "Center," the en-route air traffic controllers who keep each of us in our own space. Aaron Merrick, a Certified Professional Controller at the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center, gives us a look at who's on the other side of the mic and how their world is a lot like ours. The voice on the radio can sound intimidating, and often we have no idea what's happening in the background. In our next two articles, he gives us a look at the life of a Certified Professional Controller.Īir Traffic Control often seems ominous to pilots - especially to new pilots. Aaron Merrick is a Certified Professional Controller (CPC) and the NATCA President at Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZKC).
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