ATC services & terminology
TC AIM RAC 1.1.1 lists nine services. Five matter for PPL:
| Service | Provider | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Airport control | Airport control towers (TWRs) | Aircraft and vehicles on airport manoeuvring area; aircraft operating in airport vicinity |
| Area control | Area control centres (ACCs) | IFR and CVFR (controlled VFR) flights within specified control areas |
| Terminal control | IFR units | VFR aircraft within Class C airspace (additional service) |
Airport control (NAV CANADA VFR Phraseology, Control Towers):
- Issue clearances and instructions to arriving and departing aircraft and ground vehicles.
- Provide separation from other aircraft.
Area control (NAV CANADA VFR Phraseology, Area Control Centres):
- Each ACC responsible for a Flight Information Region (FIR), divided into sectors.
- Controllers give enroute instructions and provide terminal clearances at certain airports.
Alerting service:
- Notifies appropriate organizations of aircraft needing search and rescue.
- Alerts crash equipment, ambulances, doctors, other safety services.
- Alerts a responsible authority if pilot reports unlawful interference, bomb threat, or inability to communicate in the clear.
Flight information service (by ATC units):
- Known hazardous flight conditions not available before takeoff or developed en route.
- Available whenever practicable to any aircraft in communication with an ATC unit, before takeoff or in flight, except where aircraft operator already provides it (RAC 1.1.1(i)).
- VFR coverage: severe weather along proposed route, NAVAID serviceability changes, airport and facility conditions, other items pertinent to flight safety (RAC 1.1.1).
Altitude reservation (f) and AMIS (g): military or air-defence services, not PPL.
ATC priorities:
- Primary purpose: prevent collisions and expedite traffic.
- ATC (Air Traffic Control) Service purposes (RIC-21 Appendix A):
- Prevent collisions between:
- aircraft
- aircraft and obstacles
- aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring area (not the apron)
- Expedite and maintain orderly air traffic flow
- Prevent collisions between:
- Takes precedence over flight information service; ATC still makes every effort to provide flight information and assistance.
Terms (RIC-21 Appendix A):
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Controlled aerodrome | Aerodrome with an operating air traffic control unit |
| Flight service station (FSS) | ATS unit providing selected flight services; not an ATC unit |
Suggestions: controller providing flight information prefixes a suggested action with "ATC SUGGESTS..." or "SUGGEST YOU...". Pilot, not controller, decides.
Trap: terminal control is IFR units to VFR aircraft in Class C (AIM 1.1.1(d)); area control is ACCs to IFR/CVFR. AIM 1.1.1(c) repeats ACC wording under terminal heading; for exam use (d).
References
- TC AIM RAC 1.1.1
- NAV CANADA VFR Phraseology, What to Expect From Different ATS Units
- RIC-21 Appendix A (ATC Service, Controlled Aerodrome, Flight Service Station)
- CARs 101.01(1) (manoeuvring area)