Air Traffic Control Entities

 

Tower: Ground control and Local control 

Ground control and Tower control each have specific duties to ensure separation and an expeditious flow of air traffic. Per the FAA Joint Order 7110.65, Ground control's position is responsible for control of movement areas by taxiing aircraft or other vehicles. Movement areas include taxiways and ramps not under Local control (FAA, 2020). Like Local control, Ground control has its own phraseology for allowing or prohibiting aircraft and vehicles to maneuver on the movement area(s). 

Local control is air traffic, ensuring positive separation in the entire airspace - including runways. With both arrivals and departures, Local control ensures proper sequencing and spacing for aircraft. On departure, Local controllers provide departure information including runway in use, wind direction and speed, and altimeter setting if the pilot did not previously affirm the correct ATIS code. Upon arrival Local control's responsibility is to clear an aircraft for landing - by providing a safe and expeditious flow of air traffic, once again providing the runway in use, wind, and landing clearance (FAA, 2020). An example of a Local controller's landing clearance could be, "Mace 11, runway 32, wind two-eight-zero at four, cleared to land." This provides the pilot assurance that the runway is cleared for his or her arrival, and additional information to assist in landing. 

Ground control and Local control work closely together and communication between the two is critical. According to the FAA 7110.65, chapter 2, section 10, paragraph 3, both Local control and Ground control share many of the same responsibilities, including ensuring separation, initiating control instructions, monitoring communications equipment, ensuring proper strip marking is completed, and scanning the tower cab environment for anomalies, maintaining situational awareness. The Tower Team Concept Intent states there is no absolute division of responsibilities in the tower cab - everyone is equally responsible for ensuring safety at that facility (FAA, 2020).  

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Reference

Department of Transportation. (2020, December 31). FAA Order JO 7110.65Y - Air Traffic Control. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/