Get started

Air Traffic Control

NAICS 488111 · Support Activities for Transportation · SBA size standard: $40 million average annual receipts

Air traffic control facilities coordinate aircraft movements on the ground and in the airspace using radar, voice, and data systems. For a terminal or en-route facility, the specialists turn flight plans and live radar tracks into sequenced clearances, convert weather and traffic data into runway configurations and flow rates, maintain logs and voice recordings for review, and generate the daily operational reports and equipment status checks. Phraseology, separation standards and FAA directives remain with the controllers.

Start with these bots

What makes this business different

  • Real-time coordination of live aircraft with voice and data link clearances that must follow strict FAA phraseology
  • Continuous radar, ADS-B and automation system monitoring with immediate handoff between sectors and facilities
  • Weather, runway and airspace configuration changes that affect arrival and departure rates throughout the day
  • Mandatory voice recording, incident reports, daily logs and equipment outage tracking for FAA review
  • Shift handovers with position relief briefings, staffing adjustments and fatigue management
  • Coordination with airlines, pilots, maintenance crews, airport operations and neighboring facilities
  • Runway incursions, go-arounds, emergencies and special flight operations that require immediate documentation

Specialist bots

  • a controller seated at a console reviewing multiple electronic flight strips on large radar display screens showing aircraft tracks

    Flight Plan Verifier

    Convert filed flight plans into verified, automation-ready data with route and restriction checks.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Flight plan processing and route verification

    Automates

    • Parses incoming flight plans from airline systems and direct filings
    • Checks routes against active NOTAMs, weather and airspace restrictions
    • Assigns beacon codes and creates electronic flight strips
    • Flags plans needing coordination with other facilities

    Stops for a person

    • A controller reviews and approves any route amendments
    • Complex reroutes or altitude reservations are confirmed by the supervisor
  • a traffic management coordinator standing at a large wall display showing weather radar, airport layouts and aircraft flow graphics

    Traffic Flow Manager

    Assess weather, demand and capacity to set arrival and departure rates and issue flow restrictions.

    Works in: Process Optimizer, Ambitious Sheets, Ambitious Tasks · Workflows: Traffic management and flow control

    Automates

    • Calculates airport acceptance rates based on runway configuration and weather
    • Recommends ground delay programs or reroutes
    • Monitors metering and airborne holding
    • Updates facility configuration and rate forecasts

    Stops for a person

    • The facility manager approves any ground stop or delay program
    • Coordination with the Air Traffic Control System Command Center is performed by supervisory staff
  • a controller at a tower console speaking into a headset while monitoring aircraft lined up for departure on the airfield below

    Clearance Delivery Coordinator

    Issue accurate departure clearances and sequence aircraft for pushback and taxi.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Clearance delivery and pushback sequencing

    Automates

    • Matches aircraft to their filed flight plan and gate position
    • Generates the full clearance with route and frequency information
    • Sequences departures according to runway and traffic flow
    • Logs all issued clearances and any amendments

    Stops for a person

    • The controller reads the clearance to the pilot and verifies the readback
    • Any non-standard routing requires controller approval before transmission
  • a controller focused on a large radar scope with multiple aircraft data blocks and vectors displayed in a dimly lit room

    Radar Separation Specialist

    Monitor live radar tracks and issue instructions to maintain required separation between aircraft.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Radar separation and conflict resolution

    Automates

    • Tracks all aircraft within the sector using radar and ADS-B data
    • Calculates projected separation and suggests vectors or altitude changes
    • Prepares automated handoff requests to adjacent sectors
    • Records conflict alerts and resolution actions

    Stops for a person

    • The controller makes all final decisions on control instructions to pilots
    • Any loss of separation triggers an immediate supervisory review
  • two controllers standing at a console reviewing a digital briefing display with radar and weather information visible

    Shift Handover and Briefing Clerk

    Prepare and document standardized position relief briefings and shift handovers.

    Works in: Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Position relief briefing and shift handover

    Automates

    • Compiles current traffic, weather, equipment and restriction information
    • Generates the electronic briefing form
    • Logs the exact time of each position relief
    • Tracks controller hours of service and fatigue indicators

    Stops for a person

    • Both controllers verbally confirm all briefing items
    • The supervisor reviews any extended duty or fatigue concerns
  • a technician in an equipment room checking rack-mounted radar processors and communication transmitters with status lights illuminated

    Equipment Status Monitor

    Track status of all radar, communication and automation systems and log outages.

    Works in: Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets, Ambitious Docs · Workflows: Equipment status and outage reporting

    Automates

    • Polls and displays real-time status of all facility systems
    • Generates hourly equipment status reports
    • Drafts maintenance notifications for outages
    • Activates backup system checklists when primary systems degrade

    Stops for a person

    • Technical operations personnel confirm all maintenance actions
    • The facility manager approves any system status changes sent to higher authority
  • a controller replaying a radar recording on a dedicated workstation while annotating events on a digital timeline

    Incident and Safety Records Clerk

    Capture, organize and preserve all voice, radar and operational data following any incident.

    Works in: Ambitious Docs, Ambitious Tasks, Ambitious Sheets · Workflows: Incident and safety reporting

    Automates

    • Preserves relevant voice recordings and radar replays immediately
    • Compiles the initial incident data package
    • Tracks required reporting timelines and follow-up tasks
    • Maintains the facility incident log

    Stops for a person

    • Supervisors review and approve all incident reports before filing
    • Quality assurance personnel conduct the formal investigation and analysis

Workflows

Flight plan processing and route verification

Starts when: A new flight plan is filed or amended by airline operations or a pilot

  1. Parse the flight plan for aircraft type, route, altitude, speed and requested departure time
  2. Check the route against active restrictions, weather, special use airspace and known traffic
  3. Assign or verify the beacon code and strip data for the automation system
  4. Coordinate with adjacent sectors or facilities if the route crosses boundaries
  5. Create a verified flight plan task visible to all control positions

Watch for: Preferred routes and altitude reservations must be checked against current directives; Any amendment requires coordination before transmission to the pilot

Traffic management and flow control

Starts when: Start of each shift and when weather, runway or demand changes occur

  1. Assess current and forecast weather, runway availability and airport acceptance rates
  2. Determine required miles-in-trail, ground delay programs or reroutes using the process optimizer
  3. Issue flow restrictions or approvals to upstream facilities
  4. Monitor airborne holding, arrival metering and departure sequencing
  5. Update the facility configuration and expected rates for the next four hours

Watch for: Runway configuration changes must be coordinated with airport operations and maintenance; Ground stop or delay programs require approval before implementation

Clearance delivery and pushback sequencing

Starts when: Aircraft requests clearance or is ready for pushback

  1. Verify the flight plan matches the aircraft at the gate
  2. Issue the departure clearance with route, altitude, departure frequency and transponder code
  3. Sequence the aircraft for pushback and taxi based on runway assignment and traffic
  4. Coordinate with ground control for taxi route and hold short instructions
  5. Log any amendments or delays

Watch for: All clearances must use exact FAA phraseology and readback verification; EDCT compliance for regulated departures must be monitored

Radar separation and conflict resolution

Starts when: Continuous during every control position watch

  1. Monitor live radar and automation tracks for all aircraft in the sector
  2. Issue vectors, altitude changes or speed adjustments to maintain separation
  3. Coordinate handoffs with adjacent sectors using automated or manual pointouts
  4. Respond to pilot requests and resolve any conflicts or TCAS alerts
  5. Document any loss of separation or near mid-air collision events

Watch for: Visual and radar separation standards vary by airspace class and weather conditions; All control instructions must be recorded on the voice and data systems

Position relief briefing and shift handover

Starts when: Every scheduled position relief or controller change

  1. Conduct a verbal position relief briefing covering traffic, weather, restrictions and equipment status
  2. Review the written briefing strip or automation notes
  3. Transfer active frequencies, data tags and handoff agreements
  4. Verify the relieving controller has full situational awareness
  5. Log the time of position relief and any outstanding items

Watch for: Standardized briefing format required by FAA order; Fatigue risk and hours-of-service limits must be observed

Equipment status and outage reporting

Starts when: Start of shift, hourly and when anomalies are observed

  1. Check status of radar, communication, automation, backup power and lighting systems
  2. Log any outages or degradations in the facility maintenance log
  3. Notify technical operations and request priority restoration if needed
  4. Activate backup systems or procedures during outages
  5. Update the operational status display for all controllers

Watch for: Certain outages require immediate notification to the Air Traffic Control System Command Center; Backup radar and communication procedures must be verified

Incident and safety reporting

Starts when: After any pilot deviation, runway incursion, emergency or operational error

  1. Capture all relevant voice recordings, radar replays and data logs
  2. Draft the initial incident notification and preservation request
  3. Compile the operational data summary for the quality assurance review
  4. Track required follow-up actions and reporting deadlines
  5. Store records according to FAA retention requirements

Watch for: Preservation of evidence must begin immediately upon discovery; All reports are reviewed and certified by supervisory personnel

Bot templates for this industry

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Size Standards, Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes, version March 2023 (effective 2023-03-17, NAICS 2022). Size standards are shown for reference only.