Elements of the Air Trafic Control Problem

This paper has the object of conveying the broad outlines of the problem of air traffic control and of the various solutions proposed. The problem is defined as the procedure of providing safe and expeditious flow of air traffic. Since aircraft are essentially constant speed devices, control is not possible by varying the speed of aircraft, but rather must be attained by preventing aircraft from flying into each other, under all weather conditions, without in any way impeding their progress to their destinations. The paper points out the roles played in air traffic control by the type of legal provisions governing flight; by the dispositions of airports around metropolitan centers; by the landing acceptance rate of airports; by the surface movement capacity of airports; and by the technical capabilities of instrument low approach and landing aids. Other factors considered are collision warning devices, approach and departure scheduling, and the whole concept of airways.