Describe the air traffic control (ATC) system.

Description should include

• surveillance technology (e.g., ADS-B)
• communication technology
• flight plan processing, and coordination of flight data from one ATC facility to the next
• the concept of dividing airspace into chunks and initiating/accepting handoffs for each aircraft
• the use of a national flow-control facility
• the use of airport capacity rates and how they can change due to wind and weather
• the use of weather reroutes to avoid areas of severe high-altitude weather (e.g., thunderstorms).

Process/Skill Questions:

• How effective is surveillance technology (ADS-B) compared to ground-based radar?
• What are advantages to ADS-B over radar?
• What are reasons a flight can be placed into an airborne hold?
• How can high wind affect airport capacity?
• How can enroute aircraft capacity be reduced due to weather?
• Why is it important that controllers approve flights prior to their entering the receiving controllers' airspace? How is this process automated?
• Where are FAA ATC centers located in Virginia?