Pilots deal with control towers all the time and most think they know what the tower is supposed to do, but … probably not. In this video, AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli explains what air traffic control towers are actually supposed to do. And it isn’t to keep airplanes from colliding in midair, but on the ground. Yes, really.
Video: Control Towers Don’t Do What You Think They Do
Key Takeaways:
- There is a common misunderstanding, even among pilots, regarding the actual responsibilities of air traffic control (ATC) towers.
- Contrary to popular belief, the primary role of ATC towers is to prevent aircraft collisions on the ground.
- ATC towers are not primarily responsible for preventing midair collisions between aircraft.
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