Avionics Navigation Systems, 2nd Edition

14 Air Traffic Management

14.1 INTRODUCTION

The purpose of air traffic management (ATM) is safe, efficient, and expeditious movement of aircraft in the airspace. It comprises two principal processes: air traffic control and traffic flow management. Air traffic control (ATC) is the tactical safety separation service whose function it is to prevent collisions between aircraft and between aircraft, terrain and obstructions. Traffic flow management (TFM) is the process that allocates traffic flows to scarce capacity resources (e.g., it meters arrival at capacity constrained airports).

The principal elements of the ATM process are airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment, and services; airports and landing areas; aeronautical charts, information, and services; rules, regulations, and procedures; technical information; and work force, including flight crews, air traffic controllers, traffic managers, and facilities technicians [37, 18]. This chapter describes these elements of the ATM process and explains how they interact to fulfill its purpose.

14.1.1 Services Provided to Aircraft Operators

A principal service provided by ATM is separation assurance for the prevention of collisions between aircraft and to prevent aircraft collisions with terrain and obstructions. Traffic flow management services are designed to meter traffic to taxed capacity resources, both to assure that unsafe levels of traffic congestion do not develop and to distribute the associated movement delays equitably ...