Academic Catalogs

APT A205: Terminal Air Traffic Control Lab

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 1 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lab Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Total Student Learning Hours 54
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

Students apply Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower-operation procedures in a simulated control-tower environment. Lab work emphasizes ground and local control functions, phraseology, flight-data handling, runway-incursion prevention, and emergency coordination. Simulations replicate real-time operations using computer-based and instructor-directed scenarios. PREREQUISITE: APT A204 or concurrent enrollment. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Operate a simulated airport control tower environment by managing ground and local control operations, sequencing traffic, and maintaining safe separation in accordance with FAA standards.
  2. Apply standard FAA phraseology and communication procedures to issue clearances, coordinate handoffs, and ensure accurate readback/hearback compliance.
  3. Analyze and resolve traffic management conflicts using procedural rules and real-time situational awareness within tower operations.
  4. Demonstrate teamwork and coordination proficiency between controller positions (Clearance Delivery, Ground, Local) to ensure safe, efficient airport operations.
  5. Identify and respond to abnormal or emergency situations using correct phraseology and procedures as outlined in FAA Order JO 7110.65.

Course Objectives

  • Describe the structure and operational functions of tower controller positions, including Clearance Delivery, Ground Control, and Local Control.
  • Interpret and apply FAA Order JO 7110.65 procedures governing ground and local control responsibilities.
  • Issue taxi, takeoff, landing, and crossing clearances using correct phraseology and sequence in a tower-simulation environment.
  • Apply wake-turbulence and runway-separation standards to manage departures, arrivals, and runway usage safely.
  • Coordinate aircraft movements and handoffs with simulated TRACON (approach/departure control) facilities following established Letters of Agreement (LOAs).
  • Recognize and prevent runway incursions through proper surface-area management, hotspot awareness, and visual scanning techniques.
  • Evaluate meteorological and operational factors (visibility, wind direction, runway closures) that influence tower control decisions.
  • Demonstrate proper handling of abnormal operations including go-arounds, lost communications, and emergency response coordination.
  • Utilize flight progress strips and position logs to record, amend, and track aircraft movements.

Lab Content

  1. Orientation
    1. Lab safety, headset setup, phraseology warm-up, overview of controller positions.
  2. Facility Roles & Team Structure
    1. Rotate through Clearance Delivery, Ground, and Local; practice intra-position coordination.
  3. Airport Layout Identification
    1. Label runways/taxiways; identify non-movement zones; develop surface-movement situational awareness.
  4. Ground-Control Fundamentals I
    1. Issue taxi clearances, hold-short instructions, runway-crossing procedures.
  5. Ground-Control Fundamentals II
    1. Manage multiple aircraft on intersecting taxiways; apply progressive-taxi techniques.
  6. Local-Control Fundamentals I
    1. Issue takeoff/landing clearances; maintain visual separation; manage standard traffic patterns.
  7. Local-Control Fundamentals II
    1. Sequence departures/arrivals; apply time-/distance-based separation standards.
  8. Coordination with TRACON
    1. Practice point-outs, releases, and transfer-of-control phraseology.
  9. Integrated Tower Ops I
    1. Operate dual positions under instructor supervision; manage pattern saturation.
  10. Runway Incursion Prevention
    1. Identify and resolve potential incursions; coordinate vehicle and aircraft movements.
  11. Weather and Visibility Impacts
    1. Modify spacing/clearances based on METARs, RVR values, and wind conditions.
  12. Abnormal Situations I
    1. Execute standard go-around phraseology; re-sequence arrivals after abort.
  13. Abnormal Situations II
    1. Apply NORDO, distress/urgency, and equipment-failure procedures.
  14. Team Resource Management
    1. Evaluate team coordination; rotate controller/supervisor roles.
  15. Integrated Tower Ops II
    1. Manage mixed VFR/IFR traffic, ground congestion, and coordination with radar sectors.
  16. Final Capstone Evaluation
    1. FAA-style proficiency check: phraseology, separation, coordination, safety compliance.

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lab (04)

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 complete approximately 25–35 pages of procedural material per week to reinforce lab performance.) - FAA Order JO 7110.65, Chapters 2, 3, 4, 7 10: Air Traffic Control, Ground control, local control, clearances, and emergency procedures. - FAA Air Traffic Basics (Course 50110, Modules 6–10): Tower Operations and Coordination. - Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Section 4-3: Traffic Control Procedures and Communications. - Advisory Circular 150/5300-13B: Airport Design – Runway/taxiway geometry and safety areas. - FAA Runway Safety Program Publications: Hot-spot charts and incursion-prevention briefs. - Nolan, M.S. (2015). Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control (6th ed.). Chapters 7–9 on tower coordination and local control. - Selected articles from Journal of Air Traffic Control or FAA Safety Briefing covering tower incidents and lessons learned.

Writing Assignments

(Students complete 10–12 pages of written work during the semester demonstrating technical communication and procedural analysis.) Simulation Shift Report (Weekly): Write a one-page log summarizing each lab session including traffic volume, runway usage, and any deviations or conflicts resolved. Incident Memo of “Runway Incursion Case Study”: Analyze a real FAA runway-incursion report and identify causal factors (human error, communication failure, layout). Recommend corrective actions using FAA order references. Clearance Phraseology Checklist: Compile and submit a personal reference sheet of standard clearances used for departures, arrivals, and crossings. Coordination Summary Report: After a joint lab with TRACON students or simulated radar controllers, prepare a one-page summary explaining handoff timing and phraseology used.

Out-of-class Assignments

(Students devote 2–3 hours per week outside of lab for skill reinforcement and research.) LiveATC Observation: Listen to live tower frequency broadcasts (e.g., KONT or KLAX) and record five examples of takeoff/landing clearances. Annotate phraseology and compare to FAA standards. Airport Diagram Project: Obtain FAA airport diagrams for two different fields and label movement areas, hot-spots, and runway incursion locations. Weather Impact Exercise: Retrieve current METARs/TAFs for three regional airports and write a short summary on how wind and visibility would influence runway selection and pattern operations. Phraseology Practice Drills: Record yourself reading 10 simulated clearances and analyze accuracy and delivery speed using FAA controller transcripts for comparison. Runway Safety Poster or Brief: Develop a one-page visual guide identifying common surface-movement violations and best practices for prevention; share with class during lab briefing. Team Planning Session: Meet with lab partners outside class to draft traffic plans for next week’s simulation; assign controller roles and call-signs.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

0

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Final Exam
  • Written Assignments
  • Report
  • Problem Solving Exercises
  • Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students analyze operational variables, apply procedural reasoning, and justify sequencing or coordination choices using FAA standards. Scenario Evaluation: Given a complex pattern with intersecting runways and mixed aircraft categories, determine optimal departure/arrival sequencing and defend decisions based on JO 7110.65 standards. Runway-Change Assessment: Assess when and why a runway change is required due to shifting wind conditions or equipment outages; articulate associated risks and coordination steps. Incident Analysis: Examine a recorded runway-incursion event and identify how communication errors or misapplied separation contributed to the outcome. Team Reflection: Evaluate decision-making effectiveness during multi-controller simulations, citing examples of strong and weak situational awareness.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Required Writing Students compose structured, professional documentation mirroring FAA technical reporting. Shift Summary Report: After each full-simulation lab, write a one-page log summarizing aircraft handled, runway configuration, and procedural challenges. Runway Safety Incident Memo: Write a concise FAA-style memorandum describing a simulated safety event and recommending preventive actions. Coordination Log: Maintain a weekly record of tower-to-TRACON coordination calls, noting release times and communication quality. Problem Solving Students demonstrate analytical and quantitative reasoning to resolve operational conflicts. Sequencing Exercise: Apply wake-turbulence categories and runway-occupancy times to arrange multiple departures and arrivals in the safest order. Taxi Routing Challenge: Develop alternate taxi routes to avoid congestion and hotspot conflicts during peak ground movement. Weather Adjustment Drill: Interpret real-time METARs and modify runway use and separation based on wind and visibility changes. Communication Error Correction: Review audio logs of incorrect phraseology and rewrite them using proper FAA terminology. Skills Demonstration Students perform hands-on tasks replicating FAA tower-controller duties under simulated conditions. Clearance Delivery Simulation: Issue IFR/VFR departures using standard phraseology and read-back verification. Ground Control Operations: Direct taxi, runway-crossing, and hold-short instructions; prevent conflicts and maintain surface awareness. Local Control Operations: Sequence aircraft for takeoff and landing while maintaining required separation and wake-turbulence spacing. Emergency Scenario: Handle simulated radio failure or go-around situations, coordinating with other positions using proper phraseology. Capstone Performance Evaluation: Operate a complete tower session managing ground and local control positions with 100 % phraseology compliance and no loss of separation.

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.