Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	03/11/2026
Top Code	302030 - Air Traffic Control (CTE)
Units	2 Total Units
Hours	36 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 36)
Total Outside of Class Hours	72
Total Student Learning Hours	108
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S)

Course Description

An introduction to the United States (US) Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) organization, and National Airspace System (NAS). Students explore career pathways, facility types (tower, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)), and basic communication, navigation, and aircraft identification skills. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Students will correctly identify airspace classes and describe applicable separation minima.
2. Students will demonstrate proper FAA phraseology during simulated traffic scenarios.

Course Objectives

• Describe the structure and mission of the FAA and NAS.
• Identify ATC facility types and their functions.
• Recognize airspace classifications and aircraft categories.
• Demonstrate introductory phraseology and radio procedures.
• Explain fundamental safety and teamwork concepts in ATC.

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Lecture Content

1. Introduction to the FAA and the history of Air Traffic Control; overview of controller duties and career pathways.
2. Structure of the National Airspace System (NAS); overview of system users.
3. Types of ATC facilities and their operational roles (Tower, TRACON, ARTCC, FSS).
4. Fundamentals of aircraft movement and control responsibility.
5. Airspace classifications A–G; controlled vs. uncontrolled.
6. Navigation aids: VOR, ILS, GPS, ADS-B.
7. Flight rules and aircraft categories; basic separation standards.
8. Introduction to phraseology and communication principles.
9. Reading aviation weather reports (METARs, TAFs).
10. Coordination and handoff basics between ATC facilities.
11. Safety culture and human factors in ATC.
12. Emergency procedures and abnormal situations.
13. Team dynamics, shift management, and workload prioritization.
14. FAA Orders and regulatory framework (JO 7110.65, 7210.3).
15. Professionalism, ethics, and career readiness in ATC.
16. Comprehensive review and final simulation assessment.

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

- Lecture and multimedia presentations - Simulation and role-playing labs (tower and radar exercises) - FAA document analysis (JO 7110.65, AIM excerpts) - Group discussions and scenario problem-solving

Reading Assignments

(Students are expected to complete approximately 30–40 pages of technical reading per week.) - FAA Order JO 7110.65, Chapters 1–3 – Introduction, Air Traffic Control Procedures, and Facility Organization. - Pilot/Controller Glossary (AIM Appendix A) – Standard terminology and phraseology reference. - FAA Air Traffic Basics Manual (Course 50110) – Modules 1–5 on NAS Structure and Communication Fundamentals. - Advisory Circular 90-23G – Aircraft Wake Turbulence – Introductory reading on separation concepts. - Selected Aviation Weather Center reports (METAR/TAF) – Students interpret daily weather data relevant to ATC decision-making. - Contemporary articles from the FAA Safety Briefing or Air Traffic Controller Magazine on emerging technologies and controller human factors.

Writing Assignments

(Approx. 2 pages per assignment unless noted.) - Reflection Paper – “The Role of the Controller in the NAS.” Students summarize how controllers ensure safety and efficiency in the National Airspace System, linking to FAA policy. - Technical Report – “Facility Coordination Flow.” Create a diagram and written summary describing how a flight progresses through ATC facilities (Tower → TRACON → ARTCC). - Case Study – “Analyzing a Runway Incursion Event.” Research a real FAA incident and explain the human factors, communication errors, and preventive measures using proper citations. - Phraseology Exercise Log. Maintain a lab journal documenting weekly communication drills, common errors, and personal improvement goals. - Final Project – “NAS Systems Integration.” Students submit a five-page report and visual chart illustrating how weather, navigation, and airspace interact within ATC operations.

Out-of-class Assignments

(Students devote approximately 2 hours per week to each of the following categories.) - FAA Document Review: Read assigned sections of JO 7110.65 and highlight key procedures for tower and radar operations. Objective: Prepare for weekly in-class “Order Check” quizzes. - Simulation Observation: Observe a live tower or online ATC simulation (VATSIM, ATC-Sim) for 30 minutes and submit a one-page summary of phraseology and traffic flow. - Weather Analysis: Retrieve three METARs/TAFs from the NOAA Aviation Weather Center and explain how conditions affect controller decision-making. - Career Research Assignment: Explore the FAA Careers website and summarize the AT-CTI pipeline, qualifications, and ATSA process in a short report. - Group Scenario Preparation: Collaborate with classmates to plan a mock tower operation exercise; assign controller roles and develop a traffic sequence plan for lab presentation. - Phraseology Practice: Record yourself reading standard clearances and transmissions; self-evaluate for clarity and accuracy against FAA standard phrasing.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

72

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Midterm Exam
• Final Exam
• Short Quizzes
• Written Assignments
• Essay Examinations
• Problem Solving Exercises

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students apply analytical reasoning to evaluate complex operational situations that mirror real ATC decision environments. - Scenario Analysis: Given a multi-aircraft sequencing problem in mixed weather conditions, students must determine appropriate runway use and justify separation decisions in writing. - Safety Case Study: Analyze a runway-incursion incident using the five-why root-cause model; propose procedural and human-factor mitigations. - System Evaluation: Compare the efficiency of visual vs. radar separation in varying airspace classes and explain trade-offs in workload and safety. - Ethical Decision Exercise: Assess a situation where controller fatigue or workload may impact safety; recommend interventions consistent with FAA ethics policy.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students demonstrate professional and technical communication competence through structured written work. - Short Analytical Essay: “The Controller’s Role in Maintaining Separation Standards.” (2 pages) - Incident Summary Report: Write an FAA-style operational summary of a simulated communication error, identifying contributing factors and corrective actions. - Facility Coordination Memo: Compose an inter-facility coordination note (Tower to TRACON) using proper format and phraseology conventions. - Reflection Log: Weekly journal entries documenting simulation performance, decision reasoning, and areas for improvement. Students use quantitative and procedural reasoning to resolve authentic ATC challenges (problem solving). - Airspace Classification Puzzle: Given a sectional chart, determine appropriate ATC responsibility, flight rules, and altitude restrictions. - Separation Computation Exercise: Calculate time-and-distance separation between aircraft of differing performance classes using FAA minima. - Weather Impact Assessment: Interpret a METAR/TAF and decide whether specific operations require IFR coordination or ground delay. - Communication Error Correction: Review a transcript of faulty phraseology and rewrite transmissions to meet FAA standards. Students perform hands-on demonstrations replicating core ATC competencies. - Phraseology Lab Evaluation: Conduct simulated ground and local control transmissions using accurate FAA-approved phraseology with 100 % read-back compliance. - Tower-Sim Scenario: Direct a simulated pattern of five aircraft, maintaining legal separation and traffic flow under instructor observation. - Navigation Aid Identification Drill: Identify VORs, NDBs, and GPS waypoints on provided charts within a timed lab exercise. - Emergency Coordination Simulation: Handle a simulated radio-failure scenario, applying lost-communications procedures and coordination steps. - Final Proficiency Check: Integrated lab requiring real-time communication, sequencing, and decision-making under workload stress.

Resources Subscreen

• Textbook: Jeppesen Sanderson. Introduction to Air Traffic Control. Jeppesen Sanderson (2020).

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Aviation (flight, navigation, ground school, air traffic control): Any bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.