SYST 460/560/
OR 750 Introduction To Air Traffic Control (3: 3: 0)
Prerequisites: graduate standing, STAT 344 and SYST 335, SYST 417. OR 542 is encouraged as a co-requisite.
This course is intended as an introduction to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for those who plan professions in the aviation industry. It is a necessary introduction for students who will later specialize and take more in-depth courses. The course will survey the entire field, presenting the history of ATC and how it came to be as it is, the technology on which the system is based, the procedures used by controllers to meet the safety and efficiency goals of the system, the organizational structure of the FAA, challenges facing the system and means under investigation to meet these challenges. This course will involve some field work for data collection and analysis. A class project requiring a system simulation will be required.
Course Objective: Students will learn the necessary basic knowledge in air traffic management of today’s air transportation system. This course prepares students for work in both industry and at a graduate level.
Relationship to Other Courses: This is
a required course for graduate students who want to study in the field of air
transportation. SYST 460 or 560 is a
prerequisite to SYST 660. Credit will
not be given for both SYST 460 and 560.
Instructor: Prof. George L. Donohue
Office: S&T II, Hrs: 1 hr before class
Lab: S&T II, Rm 122
e-mail: gdonohue@gmu.edu
cell phone:
301-346-7498
COURSE SYLLABUS
Topic Outline:
1. History of ATC:
Early development of control systems
Involvement of the Federal government
Key enabling and regulating legislation
Emergence of the FAA
Recent development issues (e.g., controller’s strike,
2. System modernization:
Motivation for modernization
Key challenges faced by the system
New technology and procedures to meet these challenges
3. Basic ATC Technology:
Navigation systems
Communications systems
Surveillance systems (Radar, etc.)
Weather systems
Air Traffic Control and Traffic Management systems
4. Airport, Airspace and Aircraft Operations and Procedures:
Airports
Terminal airspace
En route airspace
Radar and non-radar control
Oceanic ATC
Aircraft and Pilot controls
Airport operations data will be collected and analyzed as part of the course field work. Visits to FAA control facilities are planned.
A Final Exam to satisfy the FAA Private Pilot written exam requirement to obtain a pilots license is available to interested students.
Course Texts:
Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control, 4th Edition, Michael Nolan, International Thomson Publishing, 2004.
Private Pilot Manual, Jeppesen, 2002.
