Air Traffic Control Knowledge Test 4

Study Notes

The document explains the role of an Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) and Air Traffic Control in the UK.
Successful candidates will be posted to work for NATS at various units across the country after completing training at one of the NATS training centres.

NATS provides Air Traffic Control in the skies over the UK, part of the North Atlantic, and many airfields across the United Kingdom.
Air traffic in UK airspace ranges from modern airliners on scheduled flights to small single-engine light aircraft used by private pilots.
NATS plans the development of the ATC infrastructure to meet the projected future demand in civil air traffic.
NATS has been a part-privatised company since 2001, with ownership divided across several stakeholders.

The airspace over the UK is divided into two Flight Information Regions (FIRs): London and Scottish.
The London FIR covers the majority of England and Wales and is controlled by the London Area Control Centre at Swanwick in Hampshire.
The Scottish FIR covers the whole of Scotland and Northern Ireland and the immediate surrounding areas, and is controlled by the Scottish En-route centre at Prestwick.

The London Area Control Centre (LACC) manages en-route traffic in the London Flight Information Region, covering en-route airspace over England and Wales up to the Scottish border.
The London Terminal Control Centre (LTCC) handles traffic below 24,500 feet flying to or from London’s airports.
Military Air Traffic Control provides services to civil and military aircraft operating outside controlled airspace.

The Scottish Area Control Centre (ScACC) controls aircraft over Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England, the Midlands, North Wales, and the North Sea from 2,500 feet up to 66,000 feet.