Flight Data Controller

A radar controllers primary concern is the safe sequencing of airplanes. Accomplishing this requires more than just good judgment, clear communication, effective working speed, and knowledge of aircraft and airspace. It depends also on up-to-date information and the ability to stay focused on his airplanes. The controller needs access to a variety of data, such as weather, NOTAMs, nationwide flow restrictions, PIREPs. SIGMETs, etc. This (often critical) information changes frequently, comes from a variety of different sources, and affects aircraft in a many ways.

tkarmer

Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Flight Data Controller is an essential, often unseen, role in air traffic control, supporting radar controllers by managing extensive data for safe and efficient flight operations.
Their primary duties include processing and maintaining Flight Progress Strips for all aircraft, including frequent amendments, and issuing IFR clearances for departures from non-towered airports.
They are also responsible for monitoring and disseminating vital real-time information such as weather, NOTAMs, and national traffic flow restrictions to ensure comprehensive situational awareness for the control room.

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My wife and I had a friend over for dinner. Our conversation eventually landed on our respective jobs. It had been storming non-stop all afternoon, making my life in the radar room a huge vector-filled headache. I mentioned that we’d had a lot of flights divert because of the awful weather.

With genuine concern, our friend asked, “Were you okay working outside, with the rain and all?” I paused, a forkful of food in hand. Then it hit me. She’d always thought air traffic controllers were the marshallers with the orange wands, waving airplanes to parking.