Ground and Departure

 Ground and Departure

    Although it may not seem like it, Ground and Departure controllers have some similar workloads while having different purposes. Ground controllers are responsible for managing traffic on taxiways, as well as giving pilots instructions to their departure runway. At some smaller airports, where the ground traffic is not as demanding, the ground controller will assume clearance delivery responsibilities; those responsibilities include filing a flight plan and assigning the pilot their route and altitude. This also means that the ground controller could have to manage two frequencies at once. A departure controller assigns pilots headings and altitudes when they are departing an airport. In areas of low traffic congestion, the tower controller can assume some of the departure controller's responsibilities.  

 

    This controller is part of the TRACON network of controllers, which uses radar services to provide safe separation of aircraft in the TRACON's service area (Fact Sheet – Co-Located TRACONS (Terminal Radar Approach Control) 2020). SoCal's TRACON extends from 20 miles north of Burbank to the US/Mexico border, and is considered one of the busiest TRACON facilities in the world, and is located at Miramar Air Station in San Diego (Southern California TRACON (SCT) 2020). Due to the sheer size of the service area, the facility is broken down into traffic management units to service individual areas, such as the Los Angeles areas and the San Diego area.  

 

     Ground and Departure controllers are "a cog in the wheel" in ATC. Ground controllers provide safe separation of aircraft on the ground and will open flight plans for pilots in times of low traffic congestion. Departure controllers provide safe separation of aircraft on departure, and will sometimes cover multiple service area's in a TRACON's network during times of low congestion.  Although they have different responsibilities, both controllers assume additional roles at times.

 

 

 References

Fact Sheet – Co-Located TRACONS (Terminal Radar Approach Control). (2020, March 20). https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?contentkey=4009.

Global demand for air traffic control (ATC) equipment expected to reach $12.3 billion over next five years. StackPath. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/communications/article/14175576/air-traffic-control-atc-equipment-remote-tower.

Southern California TRACON (SCT). (2020, August 25). https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/air_traffic_services/tracon/sct/.