Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC)

Thousands of flights. Numerous challenges. Just a typical day for System Operations.

The David J. Hurley Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) was established in 1970 at FAA Headquarters in Washington, DC to identify solutions to air traffic inefficiencies in the National Air Space System (NAS). After relocating to Herndon, Virginia in 1994, the ATCSCC was permanently moved to its Warrenton, Virginia site in 2011. This one-of-a-kind facility is dedicated to balancing the nation's air traffic demand with system capacity. 

The  FAA  coordinates up to 50,000 flights in the U.S. per day; over a quarter of the world’s scheduled flights arrive at or depart from U.S. airports. With 5,000 aircraft in the nation’s skies during the busiest periods, numerous experts from government agencies and the aviation industry work seamlessly through a process called collaborative decision making to manage current and future constraints in the system. They discuss flight planning, weather, runway construction, the movement of dignitaries, and other issues that may impact the system. Stakeholders include:

• Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs)
• Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACONs)
• Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs)
• Aviation Industry Partners

The ATCSCC Team uses traffic management initiatives (TMIs) to manage the flow of air traffic and minimize delays. TMIs may include:

• Airborne Metering,
• Miles-in-Trail,
• Reroutes,
• Ground Delay Programs,
• Ground Stops,
• Airspace Flow Programs

TMIs are also used to mitigate the impact of NAS events caused by:

• Weather,
• Equipment Outages,
• Runway Closures,
• National Emergencies

The Command Center is home to the Space Data Integrator (SDI). The SDI is a team of air traffic and commercial space transportation experts that track commercial launch and reentry operations, the status of various mission events, and the display of aircraft hazard areas. The team uses automated data to make airspace management decisions about aircraft routes and schedules during launch and reentry operations. To monitor a mission, a team of FAA air traffic and aerospace experts known as the Joint Space Operations Group (JSpOG), gathers operational data and sends the data using FAA communications tools to adapt airspace usage with incoming and outgoing operations. 

The FAA’s Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) is also co-located in Warrenton, VA. Controllers at the Potomac TRACON monitor aircraft approaching and departing the Washington metropolitan area, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Joint Base Andrews. About 600 highly technical employees work at the facilities to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the NAS.

The integration of new entrants, including Space Operations and Un-crewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), presents unique NAS challenges in addition to the usual system constraints. The ATCSCC remains vigilant and agile by adopting new strategies to evolve with the NAS. One example is PERTI (Plan, Execute, Review, Train, and Improve). This advance planning team evaluates the next day's weather and potential issues to determine what TMIs might be needed to mitigate the constraints and balance demand with capacity.

NAS Operations

How dedication keeps thousands of flights safe and efficient every day.

Each day, the FAA's Air Traffic Organization (ATO) watches over a vast airspace of more than 29 million square miles, providing service to tens of thousands of flights and millions of airline passengers. Tasked with ensuring the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS), the NAS Operations Directorate fulfills this mission by continuously monitoring and directing the daily flow of air traffic across the nation from the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC). https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/

The NAS Operations Directorate is a large, multilayered, and geographically dispersed organization that ensures that the nation's airspace is operated efficiently. The ATCSCC resides within the Directorate and is responsible for planning, directing, implementing, and monitoring all national traffic management initiatives (TMIs). The Directorate is also responsible for other NAS functions including Space Operations, and Collaborative Decision Making (CDM).

The largest component of the NAS Operations Directorate is the ATCSCC. The ATCSCC is the National Airspace System's central hub and ensures the entire network achieves optimum performance by balancing system demand and capacity. ATCSCC traffic managers provide strategic and tactical NAS oversight and regulate real-time air traffic when constraints such as weather, runway closures, equipment outages, security issues, or other impacting conditions affect the NAS. The ATCSCC provides a network-centric platform from which the FAA manages and recovers from large-scale disaster events and infrastructure outages.

The Director of NAS Operations leads a team of Deputy Directors of System Operations (DDSOs) who are strategically located around the country and are focused on improving system efficiency. They engage with the ATCSCC, NAS stakeholders, local FAA facilities, and other FAA lines of business to help mitigate system constraints such as airport construction and high-volume events like the Super Bowl. They also work to accomplish NAS-wide efforts such as the Air Traffic Organization's Efficiency Performance Initiatives.

As commercial space operators innovate, Space Operations keeps the NAS safe and efficient.

The Space Operations group is the Air Traffic Organization's (ATO) office of primary responsibility for launch and reentry of space operations and oversees the ATO effort to integrate space operations into the NAS. From the ATCSCC Challenger Room, ATO Space Operations coordinates launch and reentry missions with industry, the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and Air Traffic facilities.

This group is leading the effort to improve safety and efficiency by deploying new capabilities and procedures while advances in technology and commercial enterprise increase the tempo of space operations.

NAS Operations continually strives to improve gate-to-gate strategic traffic management. The Director of NAS Operations provides leadership, direction, and guidance in the development of procedures and standards for air traffic control utilizing the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) Process. Collaborative Decision Making is a joint government, industry, aviation associations, and academia initiative focused on strengthening Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) through information exchange.

KZOA Domestic ATC Operations

KZOA Operations Manager Watch Desk (24/7):

• Operations Manager
  510-745-3331 (24 hours/day—7 days/week)
• Oakland Domestic AFTN
  address: KZOAZQZX

KZOA Traffic Management

• Traffic Management Officer (TMO)
  John Taggart
  510-745-3229
  (Monday through Friday business hours)
• Traffic Management Unit (TMU)
  510-745-3332
  fax: 510-745-3339

Oakland ARTCC Domestic Airspace & Procedures

• Support Manager
  Deborah Price
  510-745-3744
  (Monday through Friday business hours)

Oakland ARTCC Quality Control

• Support Manager
  George Kalla
  510-745-3606
  (Monday through Friday business hours)

Service Units - Air Traffic Organization

We are led by a Chief Operating Officer and a Deputy Chief Operating Officer. The ATO leadership includes eight vice presidents who oversee:

• Air Traffic Services
• Flight Program Operations
• Management Services
• Mission Support Services
• Program Management Organization
• Safety and Technical Training
• System Operations Services
• Technical Operations

Southern California TRACON (SCT) - Special Activities / Event Airspace Coordination

This page serves as a starting point for coordinating Special Activities with Southern California TRACON (SCT). These SCT special activities include aerial surveys, air shows, fireworks, and military exercises which will occur in the airspace controlled by SCT. However, it should be noted that some types of special activities also require coordination/approval from other FAA and non-FAA entities, for example, Parachute Jumps sometimes require Certificates of Authorization from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

At SCT, we handle hundreds of Special Activities each year in the course of providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) services on a 24/7 basis. Some activities are fairly simple, while others are very involved and require complex coordination. Our goal is to complete as much coordination as possible up front, rather than discussing fine details on a live ATC frequency.

• How to Submit Your Request
• How Much Time to Plan Ahead
• What Happens Next?

How to Submit Your Request

1. Download Los Angeles District (TWLA) Special Activity Coordination
   Form(PDF).
2. Save Special Activity Form to your computer.
3. Fill in the necessary fields on the form.
4. Email completed form to: AJT-SCT-Special-Activities@faa.gov
5. SCT contacts the Requester.

How Much Time to Plan Ahead

Special Activity requests must be submitted with enough lead time to allow us to prepare a comprehensive briefing package for the air traffic controllers. In order to provide the safest and most efficient ATC services possible, we have categorized each type of Special Activity into four Groups: A, B, C, and D. Please refer to the list below to determine which group your activity falls in and the amount of advance notification required:

• GROUP A:Reserved for Emergency Handling.
• GROUP B: 5 Business Days advance coordination required
  1. Aerial Survey, Minor (a minor project is less than 3 hours total survey)
  2. Aerial Training Area (activity in or activation of)
  3. Balloons / Lanterns (tethered, hot air, helium)
  4. Fireworks
  5. GPS Testing
  6. Parachute Jumping /Skydiving
  7. Skywriting
  8. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• GROUP C: 10 Business Days advance coordination required
  1. Fly-bys / Fly-overs
  2. Lasers
  3. Military Exercises
  4. Record Runs
  5. Rockets
• GROUP D: 15 Business Days advance coordination required
  1. Airshow
  2. Fly-in
  3. Aerial Survey, Major (a major project is 3 hours or more total survey)
  4. Sporting Event TFR
  5. VIP Operation

What Happens Next?

Once SCT receives your request (within the specified time frames), we will contact you regarding your activity. It's important to remember that submitting a request DOES NOT automatically constitute an approval. Many complex activities (aerial surveys, parachute jumping, etc.) will be approved by the air traffic controller on a real-time basis and will be dependent upon a number of factors including traffic volume, weather, and equipment status. If you have any questions about the status of your request, please contact SCT at 9-AWP-SCT-TMU@faa.gov or AJT-SCT-Special-Activities@faa.gov.

Operational Readiness

The Operational Readiness Directorate (AJR-X) is focused on operational contingency planning to ensure effective and efficient responses to crisis events. When a facility experiences an outage, the entire system is impacted. Our team works with facilities to ensure they have viable Operational Contingency Plans (OCP) that are exercised on a routine basis to allow for a prepared, effective & efficient response to any type of operational disruption in the NAS.

Seattle TRACON (S46) – Special Activities / Event Airspace Coordination

This page serves as a starting point for coordinating Special Activities and Photogrammetric Flights within Seattle TRACON (S46) airspace. These S46 special activities include aerial surveys, air shows, fireworks, and military exercises which will occur in the airspace controlled by Seattle TRACON. Please note that some types of special activities require coordination/approval from other FAA and non-FAA entities, for example, Parachute Jumps sometimes require Certificates of Authorization from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

At S46, we handle a large amount Special Activities and photogrammetric mission requests each year while simultaneously providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) services on a 24/7 basis. Some activities are fairly simple, while others are very involved and require complex coordination. Our goal is to complete as much coordination as possible in advance, rather than discussing fine details on a live ATC frequency.

Due to the complex nature of Seattle TRACON airspace, pilots are expected to be at VFR altitudes while operating in the Class Bravo airspace. Additionally, it is expected that the pilot's equipment be calibrated to ensure a single altitude and not a block altitude. This is more imperative the closer the aircraft is to the arrival and departure corridors and the duration of work.

We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests, depending upon the impact to the safe and expeditious movement of aircraft within our airspace.

• How to Submit Your Request
• How Much Time to Plan Ahead
• What Happens Next?

How to Submit Your Request

• Download S46 Special Activity/information request Form(PDF).
• Save Special Activity/information request form to your computer.
• Fill in the necessary fields on the form.
• Email completed form to e-mail in the form.
• General Inquiries can be sent here: AJT-S46-SA@faa.gov
• S46 Specialist Team will contact the requester

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How Much Time to Plan Ahead

Special Activity and photogrammetric requests must be submitted with enough lead time to allow us to prepare a comprehensive briefing package for the air traffic controllers. In order to provide the safest and most efficient ATC services possible, we have categorized each type of Special Activity into four Groups: A, B, C, and D. Please refer to the list below to determine which group your activity falls in and the amount of advance notification required:

GROUP A: Reserved for emergency handling or unpredicted situations

GROUP B: 5 business days advance coordination required

1. Aerial Survey, Minor (a minor project is less than 5-hours total survey)
2. Photogrammetric flight request, Minor
3. Aerial Training Area (activity in or activation of)
4. Balloons/Lanterns (tethered, hot air, helium)
5. GPS testing
6. Parachute Jumping/Sky diving
7. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

GROUP C: 10 business days advance coordination required

1. Firework shows
2. Fly-bys/fly overs
3. Lasers
4. Military Exercises

GROUP D: 15 business days advance coordination required

1. Airshow
2. FLIGHT CHECK AIRCRAFT (FLC)
3. Fly-in
4. Aerial Survey, Major (a major project is 5 hours or more or can last multiple days)
5. Photogrammetric flight request, Major
6. Sporting event TFR
7. VIP Operation

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What Happens Next?

Once the Specialist Team receives your request (within the specified time), you will be contacted regarding your activity. It's important to remember that submitting a request DOES NOT automatically constitute an approval. Many complex activities (aerial surveys, parachute jumping, etc.) will be approved by the air traffic controller on a real-time basis and will be dependent upon a number of factors including traffic volume, weather and equipment status. If you have any questions about the status of your request, contact AJT-S46-SA@faa.gov.

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VGLS - Semi Flush Steady Burner (SFSB) Initiative

At runways where displaced thresholds are required and/or intersections with another runway require such an application, lights may have to be placed in pavement to permit aircraft and vehicular traffic on the pavement. Semi flush lights primarily assist by providing visual guidance in precision approaches.Semi flush lights must not only withstand the stresses and strains of aircraft, but also endure snowplows and heavy equipment transversing them. 

Mission Support

Established in 2010, Mission Support Services fulfills the FAA mission by providing innovative and strategic direction for infrastructure and airspace design, developing policy, promoting international and domestic airspace safety, and ensuring superior execution of policies and procedures.

What We Do

Mission Support Services activities include designing airspace procedures and mapping to facilitate Air Traffic Organization (ATO) projects across the country; processing staffing and budgets; and collecting and evaluating safety data. Additionally, Mission Support Services ensures airspace policies, strategies, procedures, and mapping fit current airspace needs, while leading international airspace coordination.

Mission Support also oversees the operations of the Western, Central, and Eastern Service Centers in the Seattle, Dallas, and Atlanta areas. The service centers provide the link between headquarters technical programs and their integration in the operations environment.

Address

FAA National Headquarters
1028 - 10A
800 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: (202) 267-8261

Lighting Systems - Visual Guidance Lighting Equipment Approval Program (VGLEAP)

• Equipment Specifications