Ever heard “Caution wake turbulence. Following a heavy,” and wonder if the controller is giving you enough space? How much space do you really need?

Pilots always listen to the ATIS, right? And how does ATC get that information it records for the ATIS. And while we’re at it, how do AWOS and ASOS differ?

Ever wondered why some airplanes take off one right after another and you’re still sitting there thinking, “What the heck?” Don’t worry. You (probably) weren’t forgotten.

Have you ever yelled at a controller on frequency? Or, have you been yelled at by ATC? Do you think it was warranted? How did you handle it after that?

Ever watched news about ATC—controllers falling asleep, doing drugs, near misses? Can any of that be true? Here is one controller’s perspective.

Reasonably powerful lasers have grown cheaper and are generally available. Both innocent and malicious pranksters have caused real issues.

We continue our inside look at what it takes for ATC to manage traffic in and around Oshkosh during the annual AirVenture.

Have you flown into AirVenture? You’ve heard stories about the stressful mixed density of traffic across all performance levels with pilots of widely varying skills. In this first of two articles I’ll explore what it takes to control all that traffic in 10 days. The ATC planning for AirVenture is extensive and nearly never stops. […]

Special VFR (SVFR) is a clearance that pilots can use to fly VFR into an airspace reporting below VMC. SVFR allows pilots to operate in and out of Class B, C, D, or E airspaces below 10,000 feet when the reported weather is below normal VFR. It is a great tool when used correctly, and […]

While most ATC facilities are open most of the day if not 24 hours, there are times when the physical building must be evacuated or “triggers” occur that require the termination of service. There can be many reasons for this, and the airspace might or might not close depending on facility. It might not be […]