The shift manager has screens monitoring the entire operations room and the airspace for which Winnipeg’s centre is responsible.
Pilots count on the controller’s directions to fly safely and maintain a safe distance from other aircraft. Air traffic con- trollers also provide pilots with critical flight information, such as weather, information regarding turbulence, airport advisories and many other services. Te controllers ensure aircraft separation by communicating via radio and data link commands.
High altitude air traffic control
Tese controllers are trained to work high altitude sec- tors – 29,000 feet and above. Tey use a computerized flight data system – CAATS (short for the Canadian Au- tomated Air Traffic System) – and will speak over a radio frequency or use controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC), which allows controllers and pilots to text each other. Using these systems, controllers monitor flights in order to ensure a minimum distance of five nautical miles lat- erally or 1,000 feet vertically between aircraft. Controllers use their airspace knowledge, established procedures and conflict detection tools to identify if a change of course, al- titude or speed is required to maintain the proper distance. High altitude controllers also let pilots know about tur- bulence − how large of an area is affected and if they can make the ride more comfortable for passengers by climbing or descending. Tey will warn pilots if they should expect wake turbulence (air currents behind an aircraft much like the wake in the water behind a boat) from other planes or if they will need to avoid military airspace. In addition to watching their own airspace, controllers
work with controllers responsible for neighbouring air- space sectors. If they anticipate a possible conflict in their neighbour’s airspace they will work together to resolve it well in advance. Te greatest portion of high level traffic flies between 34,000 and 39,000 feet, a range filled mostly with airlin- ers and cargo planes at cruising altitude. Using the plot-
74 • Spring 2015
ted points of a flight plan, controllers employ the computer system to calculate each flight’s anticipated time of arrival at various points along their route, ensuring there are no overlaps with other aircraft. Technology investment has led to improved service.
Planes used to use actual “highways” flying from one way- point to the next, mapped out in the sky and supported by a network of ground-based navigational aids. Today they plot courses with GPS to get more direct routes, which results in shorter flight times and fuel cost savings. Te EXCDS (Extended Computer Display System) uses
electronic versions of paper flight strips which are displayed on a computer screen along with paper strips. Each flight strip – paper or digital – represents one aircraft. Tese strips contain all the data on the flight to allow the control- ler to plan separation and calculate estimates. Low altitude sectors
Air traffic controllers working in low altitude sectors are
trained to monitor flights below 29,000 feet. Tis traffic can include some commercial flights as they ascend to their cruising altitude, or descend to their destination as well as medevacs and emergency aircraft, providing this sector with a good mix of large and small traffic. Low altitude sectors will include many aircraft using
visual flight rules or VFR. Controllers will not normally speak with these aircraft, but will communicate with all planes operating with Instrument Flight Rules and advise them of any known VFR aircraft. Winnipeg terminal air traffic controller
Tis can be one of the busiest sectors to work as these
controllers are responsible for lining up flights in prepa- ration for landing and sorting the flows to various desti- nations after their departures. Tey work a 35-mile radius surrounding the Winnipeg airport, stretching 55 miles to the west of the airport in order to provide service over Por- tage airport. Terminal controllers are trained to line up ar-
The Hub
Photo by Luther Caverly.
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