ABSTRACT
This chapter will try to remove some of the mystery from the topic by explaining many of the more commonly used terms and by providing a description of the basics of how an air traffic control system works. The explanation will be based on how systems currently work in the United States, but where there are important differences between the US practice and practices elsewhere, these differences will be noted. Similarly, how some alternative technologies might be used will also be discussed. To be sure, air traffic control can be complex in its details, procedures, and equipment. The goal here is not to delve into the technical details, but to describe the basic functions and approaches that are common to air traffic control systems around the world so that the policy options about how to provide these services can be discussed and understood by a broader range of people.
