ABSTRACT

In the USA, the air traffic management (ATM) system, operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is composed of two subsystems. The air traffic control (ATC) system assures safe separation of aircraft and an orderly flow of traffic. Air traffic specialists or controllers provide the ATC system’s direct service to pilots, aircrews and passengers on board aircraft being controlled by the system, during takeoff, while en route and upon landing. The traffic flow management (TFM) system works to simplify and expedite traffic flows, ensuring that the operational

environment is compatible with the capabilities of the controllers and pilots responsible for conducting flight operations. Traffic flow management specialists issue system-wide, regional and local restrictions on aircraft flight paths and schedules to ensure that traffic demand does not exceed the traffic handling capacity of the ATC system. Figure 1 depicts the hierarchical structure of the ATM system that has evolved as the demand for aviation services has grown.