air-traffic control

American  

[air-traf-ik] / ˈɛərˌtræf ɪk /

noun

1. a government service that facilitates the safe and orderly movement of aircraft within and between airports by receiving and processing data from radar and devices that monitor local weather conditions and by maintaining radio contact with pilots.

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air-traffic control British  

noun

1. an organization that determines the altitude, speed, and direction at which planes fly in a given area, giving instructions to pilots by radio

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Other Word Forms

• air-traffic controller noun

Etymology

Origin of air-traffic control

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

A preliminary analysis of air-traffic control audio suggests the same controller cleared the jet to land and simultaneously authorized the firetruck to cross the taxiway, according to two audio forensic experts interviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some air-traffic control facilities have faced staffing shortages, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said LaGuardia is relatively well-staffed with 33 certified controllers, which is four shy of its target.

From The Wall Street Journal

Video footage, air-traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data show how events unfolded on the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Transportation Department is working to overhaul the air-traffic control system, seeking billions of dollars of additional funding to upgrade antiquated systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday referred questions about LaGuardia’s air-traffic control staffing at the time of the accident to the NTSB.

From The Wall Street Journal