TagAir Traffic Control(133)
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How a series of air traffic control lapses nearly killed 131 people
By Sydney Ember and Emily Steel New York Times On a foggy Saturday morning in February, an air traffic controller cleared a FedEx cargo plane to land on Runway 18L at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. A Southwest Airlines jet was on the same runway, but the controller said it would take off before FedEx’s -
2023-09-25Wetland Area Near Airport with Aircraft
A tidal or riparian wetland restoration site with planted vegetation stakes, downed logs, and standing water is shown in the foreground. In the background, numerous narrow-body commercial jets with red and orange tail liveries are parked on an aircraft storage ramp, consistent with the Boeing Renton facility or a Sea-Tac adjacent apron area. -
2023-09-15Aircraft Approach with Airport Landing Lights
A twin-engine wide-body commercial aircraft, landing gear deployed, descends toward a runway in overcast/foggy conditions. Visible below are standard ALSF (Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashers) runway approach lights on red stanchions, consistent with a major commercial airport instrument landing setup. -
2023-09-06Military Fighter Jet Aircraft Landing or Taking Off
A twin-engine military jet aircraft, consistent with an F/A-18 Hornet or Super Hornet, takes off from an airfield in overcast conditions with afterburner or exhaust vapor visible. Ground infrastructure includes a red fire/safety vehicle and orange safety markers; a yellow sign with the number '6' is visible in the foreground, suggesting a runway or taxiway designation. -
2023-08-25New York Times – Aviation Close Calls
New York Times investigative article, "Airline Close Calls Happen Far More Often Than Previously Known" (Aug 2023) — reporting on the rise in near-miss air traffic incidents nationally, including sections on air traffic control staffing and specific close-call incidents. -
2023-08-16TRACON S46 Entrance
Entrance sign for a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility, visible with the FAA logo and agency lettering on a concrete monument sign. The facility is secured by chain-link fencing, consistent with FAA TRACON facilities that manage instrument approach control for airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. -
2023-08-14FAA Jet Route Chart Centered on Seattle-Tacoma Area – 14/2202z
A National Weather Service (NWS)-branded interactive aviation map showing FAA high-altitude jet routes (J-routes) radiating from a central fix near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), with surrounding cities including Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, and Olympia visible. The map is timestamped 14/2202z and displays multiple labeled jet airways (J20, J34, J90, J523, etc.) overlaid on a terrain basemap of the greater Puget Sound region. -
2023-08-14FAA Aviation Weather/Flight Track Map – Seattle-Tacoma Region
An FAA or aviation weather service map dated the 14th at 2201 Zulu, showing airports, airways, and airspace boundaries (including a pink ADIZ/TRACON boundary) across the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area and western Washington state. Visible airport identifiers include SEA (Seattle-Tacoma International), BFI (Boeing Field), PAE (Paine Field/Everett), RNT (Renton), TIW (Tacoma Narrows), OLM (Olympia), and numerous others, with a weather.gov watermark visible in the lower right. -
What is a TRACON?
The area from 6-50 miles will affect you with or without a second airport. It’s an FAA acronym. Terminal Radar Approach Control. And if you live in any of the areas considered for a Second Airport, including Enumclaw or Pierce and Thurston Counties, keep reading. TRACONs are FAA facilities that house air traffic controllers who -
2023-07-30Glossary of air traffic control and airport operations terms
This document contains a glossary of air traffic control terms relevant to Sea-Tac Airport operations, including definitions for airspace classifications, flight rules, and control facilities such as TRACON and ATCT. It also includes building code amendments for King County requiring sound transmission controls, such as specialized ventilation duct designs with sound-absorbing linings and 90-degree bends, intended to reduce aircraft noise intrusion into residential structures. These regulations reflect efforts to mitigate the impact of airport noise on nearby homes and dwellings.