Air Traffic Control Equipment

Select appropriate air traffic control supplies for your needs
By Cathy Salustri All air traffic controller equipment operates in essentially the same manner; it helps pilots avoid collisions with other planes, mountains, buildings, and the ground. Any airport with a control tower will have air traffic control tower equipment.

When considering air traffic control, basic equipment needs remain basically the same, although every ATC tower has different needs. Find the answers to the following three questions before buying any air traffic controller equipment.

1. What air traffic supplies are appropriate for what I need?

2. What air traffic control equipment and air traffic controller equipment companies will meet those needs?

3. Do I want to outfit an airplane with any ATC supplies?

Get the air traffic control equipment appropriate for your needs

Air traffic control equipment consists not only of ATC equipment within the tower but also things like runway lights, wind socks, and runway signage.
Try:  Jane's Products sells a full array of portable air traffic control equipment, air traffic supplies, air traffic control equipment systems, and air traffic control system devices. Datalink also makes air traffic equipment.

Compare air traffic control equipment companies

Before buying any air traffic control equipment, even air traffic control mandatory equipment, learn the good and bad points of the air traffic control equipment manufacturers.
Try:  Market Research prepares comprehensive reports on air traffic control equipment. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association's (NATCA) Safety and Technology center provides invaluable intelligence on what problems and challenges air traffic controllers face with air traffic control equipment (as well other ATC safety issues). NATCA's has a web site for air traffic controllers, but even if you're simply outfitting an air traffic control tower you should spend some time poking around the site to get an idea of what working air traffic controllers want and need to do their jobs properly. This will help you pick an air traffic control equipment company.

Outfit your airplane with air traffic control supplies

Generally, only air traffic controllers have air traffic control (or ATC) equipment, but some airplanes have traffic control avoidance systems (TCAS) that function as ATC equipment in airplanes. These systems cost more than most air navigation equipment, and not every plane needs a TCAS.
Try:  If you want air traffic control equipment for your airplane, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explains the differences in air traffic control equipment for different planes in its TCAS bulletin. Spectrum Aviation has new and used TCAS for sale. Before you buy, pay special attention to the TCAS bulletin.

• Visit an air traffic control tower of similar size to see what air traffic control tower equipment they've installed. Talk not just to the tower chief but to some of the regular pilots on the airfield about how well the ATC tower functions with that equipment.