Air traffic Control

The ATC’s first concern is safety, that is the prevention of collision between aircraft in the air and orderly flow of traffic.

To perform their exacting duties air traffic controllers need adequate facilities. The introduction of radars greatly assists in expediting the flow of traffic reducing the separation minima. Computers are also a powerful tool. They give assistance by taking over routine tasks but they must not dominate the system. The human controller is much more efficient than any current system because it is he who takes responsibility for controlling aircraft and it is he who takes final decisions in all situations including conflicting and emergency.

During periods of heavy traffic controllers work under high stress. They may control several aircraft simultaneously, their number sometimes exceeding 15 and even more. Controllers’ slightest error may cause loss of human lives and property.

Top physical and mental condition is a vital requirement for atc controllers. Therefore they undergo strict medical examination which are repeated at periodic intervals.

The problem of the selection and training of ATC personnel is extremely important. The controllers should possess a number of qualities which are absolutely necessary for them: a high degree of morality, a very good nervous and emotional balance, a sound critical judgment, a readiness for decisions and an instinct for team work. To become a highly professional controller one must be proficient not only in specialized aviation English but also in plain language because aviation safety depends on accurate pilot – controller communications.

The training of ATC personnel is carried out by different methods using various teaching aids, systems and simulators. Modern simulators can reproduce the whole ATC task from take-off to landing including all manoeuvers even the dangerous ones.

Exercises

I. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What is the main task of ATC activity?

2. How can controllers expedite the flow of traffic?

3. What aids and systems do controller use to control air traffic?

4. Can any aids or systems substitute a human controller? If not, then why?

5. What are the working conditions of controllers?

6. How many aircraft may controllers control at peak traffic periods?

7. What is one of the vital requirements for ATC controllers?

8. How often do they undergo medical examinations?

9. What qualities should a person possess to become a controller?

10. What can you say about the role of the English language in controller’s work?

11. How are controllers trained?

12. Can modern simulators reproduce conflicting and emergency situations?

II. Переведите слова, обращая внимание на словообразовательные элементы:

prevent – prevention – preventive

provide – provision – provider – provisional

order – orderly

perform – performance

exact – exactly – exactness

introduce – introduction – introductory

reduce – reduction

power – powerful – powerless

efficient – efficiently – efficiency

responsible – responsibility – response – respond

decide – decision – decisive

strict – strictly – strictness

necessary – unnecessary – necessity

depend – dependent – dependence – independent

train – trainer – trainee – training

carry – carrier – carriage

differ – different – indifferent – differently

simulate – simulator – simulation

III. Переведите на английский язык:

1. Существует много технических средств, помогающих диспетчерам в их работе.

2. Главным элементом в системе УВД является диспетчер, т.к. он принимает окончательное решение в любой ситуации.

3. Так как работа диспетчера очень ответственна необходим строгий отбор и подготовка персонала УВД.

4. Диспетчер должен иметь хорошее физическое здоровье умение принимать решение и работать в команде.

5. Различные тренировочные средства, системы и специальные тренажеры используются для подготовки персонала УВД.

6. Современные тренажеры позволяют имитировать все этапы полета, включая аварийные ситуации.

7. 15 или даже больше самолетов находятся под контролем диспетчера в период интенсивного движения.

8. Электронные средства не могут заменить диспетчера. Они могут только помогать ему.

9. Диспетчер не должен допускать ошибок, так как это может привести к потере человеческих жизней.

10. Минимумы эшелонирования будут уменьшены в ближайшем будущем.

11. Какой европейский центр подготавливает диспетчерский персонал?

12. Этот тренажер не может воспроизводить аварийные ситуации.

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