Academic Catalogs

APT A204: Terminal Air Traffic Control

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 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 108
Total Student Learning Hours 162
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

Introduces tower operations including ground control, local control, coordination, sequencing, and departure/arrival procedures. Students use tower simulation systems to apply phraseology and strip marking. PREREQUISITE: APT A173. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Students will issue correct ground and local control instructions in compliance with FAA standards during tower simulation scenarios.
  2. Students will apply proper phraseology, sequencing, and coordination in a multi-runway, mixed-traffic environment.

Course Objectives

  • Explain the organization and responsibilities of the tower control team (Clearance Delivery, Ground, Local).
  • Apply FAA Order JO 7110.65 procedures for airport traffic management.
  • Issue takeoff, landing, and taxi clearances using standard phraseology.
  • Sequence departing and arriving aircraft in accordance with established separation minima.
  • Demonstrate effective coordination with TRACON and adjacent facilities.
  • Manage tower operations during abnormal and emergency situations.

Lecture Content

  1. Overview of Tower Operations
    1. Tower structure, controller roles, daily shift duties, facility layout
  2. Airfield Components and Movement Areas
    1. Runways, taxiways, movement/non-movement areas, lighting, and signage
  3. Controller Positions and Responsibilities
    1. Clearance Delivery, Ground Control, Local Control, and their coordination
  4. Separation Standards and Wake-Turbulence Rules
    1. Time and distance minima; “Heavy,” “Large,” “Small” category implications
  5. Phraseology and Communication Standards
    1. Clear, concise transmissions, read-back/hear-back principles, strip notation
  6. Ground Control Procedures
    1. Taxi clearances, runway crossings, progressive taxi instructions
  7. Local Control Procedures
    1. Takeoff and landing clearances, sequencing, pattern operations
  8. Coordination with TRACON and Other Facilities
    1. Departure and arrival handoffs, LOAs, coordination phraseology
  9. Traffic Pattern Management
    1. Sequencing VFR aircraft, pattern entry/exit, opposite-direction operations
  10. Visual Separation and Tower Visibility Requirements
    1. Line-of-sight requirements, non-visibility procedures
  11. Runway Incursion Prevention and Surface Safety
    1. Hot-spot awareness, situational vigilance, movement area violations
  12. Emergency Procedures
    1. Lost communications, go-arounds, equipment failures, and distress situations
  13. Adverse Weather and Reduced Visibility Operations
    1. IFR transitions, low-visibility taxi routes, RVR and SMGCS concepts
  14. Coordination and Team Resource Management
    1. IFR transitions, low-visibility taxi routes, RVR and SMGCS concepts
  15. Case Study and Review: Real-World Tower Events
    1. Communication hierarchy, workload management, CRM in tower ops
  16. Final Review and Practical Application Integration
    1. Written exam and pre-simulation briefing for final performance test

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Instructional Techniques

- Interactive lecture using FAA manuals and visual diagrams - Simulation demonstrations and performance labs - Group problem-solving of tower traffic management scenarios - Analysis of historical accident reports and procedural failures

Reading Assignments

Students are expected to complete 25–40 pages of technical material each week. Readings are selected to build procedural fluency and reinforce FAA operational standards. - FAA Order JO 7110.65 (Chapters 2–3, 7, 10): Air Traffic Control; includes phraseology, ground, and local control procedures. - FAA Air Traffic Basics (Course 50110, Modules 6–10): Tower Operations, Clearances, Coordination, and Traffic Flow. - Advisory Circular 150/5300-13B: Airport Design – Runway layout, safety areas, and taxiway markings. - Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM): Sections 2-1 through 4-3: Airspace operations, runway lighting, and airport signage. - Nolan, M. S. (2011). Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control (5th ed.): Chapters 7–9 on Tower Control Operations. - FAA Runway Safety Program Publications: Current runway-incursion prevention and surface-movement safety briefs. - Periodical readings from Journal of Air Traffic Control or FAA Safety Briefing on recent tower-operation case studies.

Writing Assignments

Students will produce approximately 10–12 pages of analytical and technical writing throughout the semester. Operational Summary Report: “Tower Shift Log.” Prepare a one-page daily summary describing simulated ground and local operations, including runway usage, traffic count, and incidents. Technical Memorandum: “Runway Incursion Analysis.” Review a real-world incident report, identify causal factors, and propose procedural corrections based on FAA Order JO 7110.65. Communication Transcript Review. Transcribe and annotate a five-minute radio-simulation session, correcting phraseology errors and recommending improvements. Case-Study Essay: “Coordination Between Tower and Approach Control.” Write a two-page essay explaining how effective coordination affects efficiency and safety in the NAS.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students devote approximately two hours per week outside class to individual practice and research. Simulation Observation: Observe a live tower feed or online simulation (e.g., LiveATC.net or VATSIM). Record and interpret three examples of sequencing or runway crossings. Phraseology Practice: Create 15 sample clearances (departure, taxi, landing) using correct FAA phraseology; bring to lab for peer critique. Airport Diagram Exercise: Using FAA airport diagrams, label movement areas, hold-short lines, and hotspots; identify potential incursion points. Runway Lighting and Signage Study: Photograph or sketch real-world examples of runway markings and lights, labeling each according to AIM standards. Weather Impact Research: Retrieve current METARs/TAFs from three regional airports and discuss how visibility and wind affect tower sequencing. LOA Coordination Assignment: Draft a mock Letter of Agreement (LOA) between a tower and a TRACON specifying departure routes and handoff procedures.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

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

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students apply reasoning, judgment, and situational awareness to analyze complex tower operations, prioritize tasks, and ensure safety within procedural constraints. Scenario Evaluation: Given multiple aircraft approaching intersecting runways, students determine appropriate sequencing, spacing, and clearances while justifying decisions using FAA separation standards. Safety Analysis: Review an incident report involving a runway incursion or communication breakdown; identify procedural errors and propose corrective strategies grounded in FAA Order JO 7110.65. Operational Prioritization: Evaluate competing traffic demands (departures, arrivals, taxiing aircraft, emergencies) and decide which controller actions take precedence, defending reasoning based on ATC operational hierarchy. Critical Reflection: Examine how human factors—fatigue, workload, or miscommunication—impact performance, and discuss mitigation strategies within the tower team environment.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Required Writing Students produce technical and reflective writing to demonstrate professional communication and procedural understanding. Runway Incursion Report: Write a two-page narrative describing a simulated incursion event, identifying contributing factors and procedural corrections using FAA phraseology. Shift Summary Log: Maintain a daily tower operations log summarizing traffic count, weather, runway use, and safety observations. Case Study Analysis: Research and summarize a real-world incident from the NTSB or FAA Runway Safety database, focusing on communication or sequencing errors. Operational Briefing Memo: Draft a one-page inter-facility coordination memo between Tower and TRACON, using correct format and terminology. Problem Solving Students apply quantitative and procedural reasoning to realistic tower-control challenges. Sequencing Computation Exercise: Determine proper takeoff and landing sequence for mixed aircraft types while maintaining wake-turbulence separation. Runway Crossing Coordination Drill: Solve a taxiway congestion problem by developing a safe and efficient clearance sequence that prevents incursions. Weather Impact Analysis: Given visibility and wind data, select appropriate runway configuration and describe communication changes required for IFR or crosswind operations. Communication Correction Exercise: Review a transcript containing incorrect phraseology and rewrite it to meet FAA standards. Skills Demonstration Students demonstrate operational proficiency through hands-on simulation, communication, and coordination tasks. Phraseology Evaluation: Issue ground and local control clearances during a live simulation using proper FAA-approved phraseology and read-back verification. Strip-Marking Proficiency: Accurately maintain and coordinate flight progress strips throughout a simulated shift, reflecting sequencing and aircraft status. Tower-Simulation Scenario: Direct multi-aircraft operations (departures, arrivals, taxiing traffic) while maintaining separation and situational awareness under time constraints. Emergency Handling Exercise: Respond to a simulated loss-of-communication or aircraft emergency, following appropriate coordination and notification procedures. Final Practical Evaluation: Perform a comprehensive tower operation including clearance delivery, ground, and local control positions, graded against FAA performance rubrics.

Resources Subscreen

  • Manual: Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Order JO 7110.65. FAA (2026).

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.