Introduction to Air Traffic Control

Air traffic control is a network of navigation and communication systems spread across the United States. Aircraft are provided guidance with the use of radios, computers, and radar. The personnel who operate these systems are called air traffic controllers; their job is to constantly monitor every action of every aircraft and see to it that no two aircraft come too close to create an accident. There are twenty-two air traffic control centers across the United States that monitor these actions. The construction of air traffic control was initially proposed in 1922 when air traffic was increasing and concern of collisions in air grew in the public eye. The first air traffic controller was placed at Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri in 1929.