Air traffic controllers have very important jobs. They help keep planes safe as they travel in the sky and move from one airport to another. Every day, about 100,000 cargo and passenger planes take off and land around the world, and controllers make sure they do so safely and on time. They talk to pilots, tell them when and where to go, and give advice about the weather. They also help pilots find the right runways for landing and takeoff.
The job of an air traffic controller can be rather stressful. They must concentrate on their work all the time. They often deal with many planes at the same time, using radar screens to track where each plane is. They must communicate clearly with pilots and be able to make quick decisions, especially if something changes suddenly.
Without air traffic controllers, flying would be impossible. There would be more accidents and delays. Their careful work helps make sure that flying stays one of the safest ways to travel. Airlines and passengers depend on them every day. Thanks to air traffic controllers, the skies stay safe and organized.
Air traffic controllers in Washington, D.C.
Image: Work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of 17 U.S.C. § 105,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Words
- advice = tips, someone tells you the right thing to do
- cargo = the goods or products that are carried on a plane
- delay = if a plane has to wait in order to take off or land
- depend on = need
- especially = above all
- radar screen = a monitor that shows you where planes are using radio waves to locate them
- track = here: find out, locate